Female Directorship And Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure In Nigeria: The Moderating Role Of Firm Size

Abstract

Companies have witnessed more stringent pressure for corporate social responsibility reporting and the pressure has become critical for their long-term viability and success. Many studies have been conducted to determine the effect of corporate governance mechanism on corporate social responsibility disclosure both locally and internationally, but the studies have yielded inconsistent results. The moderating role of company size on the effect of corporate governance mechanism on corporate social responsibility disclosure has not been significantly studied in the Nigerian context. This study is to examine the effect of corporate governance mechanism on corporate social responsibility disclosure, and the moderating role of firm size. Ex-post facto research design was employed with cross sectional and time series dimensions. Secondary data was obtained from annual reports and accounts of listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria from 2012 to 2023 using disclosure checklist adopted from previous studies. The data was analysed using ordinary least square regressions to determine the effect of female directors on corporate social responsibility disclosure and the moderating role of firm size in listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The findings of the study revealed that: female directors have a positive and significant effect on corporate social responsibility disclosure in Nigeria; Firm size has a significant and positive moderating effect on the effect of female directors on corporate social responsibility disclosure of listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study recommends that government and policy makers should set minimum benchmark for female directorship on corporate governance in Nigeria in order to encourage more corporate information disclosures