Examining the Impact of Board Gender Diversity on Firm Value: Insights from the Pre-COVID-19 Era

This study explores the impact of board female representation on firm value prior to the COVID-19 pandemic using a sample of Sub-Saharan Africa quoted companies. Utilizing a robust dataset derived from annual reports of non-financial firms spanning 11 years, the study employs both Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to assess this relationship. In addition, the research conducts supplementary regression analyses with different measures of board gender diversity to validate its findings. The findings reveal a positive and statistically significant correlation between the presence of board female directors and enhanced firm value, highlighting the substantial contributions of women to corporate growth in Africa. These results align with previous research, reinforcing the argument for increased gender diversity in corporate governance. The practical implications of this research are significant; it suggests that governments, policymakers, and regulatory bodies should implement measures to encourage the appointment of female directors, ultimately fostering improved corporate value. This paper distinguishes itself in the academic literature as the first empirical study focused on the Sub-Saharan African context, offering significant insights into the connection between gender diversity on boards and the value of the firm in a region that has traditionally been marginalized in this area. Overall, this research adds to the expanding knowledge of corporate governance by providing new insights into the crucial role of female representation in improving firm value in Sub-Saharan Africa.