IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jjrfmx/v18y2025i2p92-d1586261.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Corporate Governance Mechanism and Bank Performance, New Insights from Emerging Economy: Evidence from Nigeria Banking Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Olusola Enitan Olowofela

    (Department of Finance and Investment Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa)

  • Hermann Azemtsa Donfack

    (Department of Finance and Investment Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa)

  • Celestin Wafo Soh

    (Department of Mathematics & Statistical Science, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA)

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and bank performance in the Nigerian banking sector. We focused on data from 2012 to 2022 extracted from the balance sheets of deposit money banks in Nigeria. We employed the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) with Stata 13 and Python library to analyze the data. The research underscores the positive influence of non-executive directors and effective credit risk management on risk-adjusted return on assets in the Nigerian banking sector. Conversely, larger board sizes and higher levels of independence negatively impact performance. Notably, corporate governance variables do not significantly determine risk-adjusted return on equity, except for a negative association with lending rates. Practical implications include advocating for non-executive directors, optimizing board size and prioritizing robust credit risk management for enhanced financial outcomes. This research contributes to understanding the crucial role of corporate governance in the Nigerian banking sector, emphasizing its significance for prudent risk management and stakeholder confidence.

Suggested Citation

  • Olusola Enitan Olowofela & Hermann Azemtsa Donfack & Celestin Wafo Soh, 2025. "Corporate Governance Mechanism and Bank Performance, New Insights from Emerging Economy: Evidence from Nigeria Banking Sector," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:18:y:2025:i:2:p:92-:d:1586261
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/18/2/92/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/18/2/92/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Saghi-Zedek, Nadia & Tarazi, Amine, 2015. "Excess control rights, financial crisis and bank profitability and risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 361-379.
    2. Erick Rading Outa & Paul Eisenberg & Peterson K. Ozili, 2017. "The impact of corporate governance code on earnings management in listed non-financial firms," Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(4), pages 428-444, November.
    3. Brahmaiah Bezawada & Sager Reddy Adaelli, 2020. "Corporate Governance, Board Characteristics and Performance of Indian Banks: An Empirical Study," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(3), pages 83-87.
    4. Md. Tofael Hossain Majumder & Xiaojing Li, 2018. "Bank risk and performance in an emerging market setting: the case of Bangladesh," Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Science, Universidad ESAN, vol. 23(46), pages 199-229.
    5. Md. Tofael Hossain Majumder & Xiaojing Li, 2018. "Bank risk and performance in an emerging market setting: the case of Bangladesh," Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Science, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 23(46), pages 199-229, November.
    6. Harkin, S.M. & Mare, D.S. & Crook, J.N., 2020. "Independence in bank governance structure: Empirical evidence of effects on bank risk and performance," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. El Mokdad Ghaithaa & Awdeh Ali, 2025. "Corporate Governance, Bank Stability and Risk-Taking: Differences Between Conventional and Islamic Banks," Review of Middle East Economics and Finance, De Gruyter, vol. 21(1), pages 1-41.
    2. Fonseka, Mohan & Farooque, Omar Al, 2024. "Banking efficiency, ownership types, and operations: A quasi-natural experiment of conventional and Islamic banks," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    3. Abayomi Oredegbe, 2022. "Competition and Banking Industry Stability: How Do BRICS and G7 Compare?," Journal of Emerging Market Finance, Institute for Financial Management and Research, vol. 21(1), pages 7-31, March.
    4. Faiza Omer Elmahgop, 2024. "Intellectual Capital and Bank Stability in Saudi Arabia: Navigating the Dynamics in a Transforming Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-23, May.
    5. Asif Pervez & Irfan Ali, 2024. "Robust Regression Analysis in Analyzing Financial Performance of Public Sector Banks: A Case Study of India," Annals of Data Science, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 677-691, April.
    6. Robert Gharios & Bashar Abu Khalaf, 2024. "Digital Marketing’s Effect on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Banks’ Success: Unleashing the Economic Potential of the Internet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-20, September.
    7. J. Navas & P. Dhanavanthan & D. Lazar, 2021. "Is Risk Based Capital Ratio a True Measure of the Soundness of Banks? Evidence From India," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 12(3), pages 92-102, May.
    8. Nyola, Annick Pamen & Sauviat, Alain & Tarazi, Amine & Danisman, Gamze Ozturk, 2021. "How organizational and geographic complexity influence performance: Evidence from European banks," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    9. Bakkar, Yassine & De Jonghe, Olivier & Tarazi, Amine, 2023. "Does banks’ systemic importance affect their capital structure and balance sheet adjustment processes?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    10. James R. Barth & Sunghoon Joo & Kang‐Bok Lee, 2022. "Bank–client cross‐ownership of bank stocks: A network analysis," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 45(2), pages 280-312, June.
    11. Arnone, Massimo & Laureti, Lucio & Costantiello, Alberto & Anobile, Fabio & Leogrande, Angelo, 2024. "The Access to Credit in the Context of the ESG Framework at Global Level," MPRA Paper 121618, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Lepetit, L. & Meslier, C. & Strobel, F. & Wardhana, L., 2018. "Bank dividends, agency costs and shareholder and creditor rights," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 93-111.
    13. Elnahass, Marwa & Salama, Aly & Trinh, Vu Quang, 2022. "Firm valuations and board compensation: Evidence from alternative banking models," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    14. Jiang, Hai & Zhang, Jinyi & Sun, Chen, 2020. "How does capital buffer affect bank risk-taking? New evidence from China using quantile regression," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    15. Hsiao, Ching-Yuan & Shiu, Yung-Ming, 2023. "Risk-sharing function in internal capital markets: Evidence from intragroup reinsurance activities," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    16. Spokeviciute, Laima & Jahanshahloo, Hossein & Keasey, Kevin & Vallascas, Francesco, 2025. "Three decades of failed bank acquisitions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    17. Emma L. Schultz & David T. Tan & Kathleen D. Walsh, 2010. "Endogeneity and the corporate governance - performance relation," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 35(2), pages 145-163, August.
    18. Mutarindwa, Samuel & Schäfer, Dorothea & Stephan, Andreas, 2020. "The impact of liquidity and capital requirements on lending and stability of African banks," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    19. He, Wenjian & Wang, Xiaodong & Miao, Miao, 2024. "Network infrastructure and corporate environmental performance: Empirical evidence from “Broadband China”," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    20. Mengqian Wu & Indra Abeysekera, 2023. "Financial reporting quality of ESG firms listed in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(6), pages 1-26, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:18:y:2025:i:2:p:92-:d:1586261. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.