Edirin Jeroh
This paper comparatively analyzes the internal determinants of environmental disclosure practices among firms in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To achieve this, secondary data on the characteristics of the measures of the board and the characteristics of the audit committee were obtained from a sample of 60 companies from across the region (20 each from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa). The regression technique was used to analyze the data and the results revealed the fact that, while the characteristics of the measures of the board and the audit committee were found to be the significant determinants of the environmental disclosure of firms in Kenya and Nigeria, the same cannot be said of firms in South Africa. The study, therefore, recommends that borrowing from South Africa, environmental management practices should be institutionalized in the entire region. Additionally, standard-setters should make practical efforts by developing new reporting standards which will guide and encourage a full disclosure of environmental concerns by firms.
Olubunmi Florence Osemene1, Joshua Solomon Adeyele2 and Pauline Adinnu3
In many countries, there are a certain number of organizations going through severe crises due to a failure in corporate governance. In this study, the main aim is to determine how the ownership structure and the characteristics of the boards of Nigeria’s listed deposit money banks (DMBs) affect aggressive earnings management for a period of 5 years (2011-2016). The panel least-square method was used to analyze the data collected. The findings revealed that private, foreign and government shareholdings have a negative and significant impact on aggressive earnings management. Also, directors’ tenures status has a significant effect on aggressive earning management, while the board size, the gender and the size of the firm have no such significant effect in the period observed. Based on these findings, the study concludes that the ownership structure has a significant impact on aggressive earnings management, whereas the characteristics of the board, excluding directors’ tenures status, do not have any significant effect. Hence, the study recommends that the 10% threshold imposed by the CBN on the government shareholding should be maintained, while regulatory and supervisory agencies are advised to pay adequate attention and conduct the monitoring of the activities performed by the CEOs of the banks, especially upon expiry of the directors’ tenure, so as to protect shareholders.
Alphonse Kumaza
Corporate innovation and technology application for the purpose of improving business profits are a permanent fixation in management. The study explores corporate innovation and its capability to ensure social accountability and environmental responsibility. Innovation is necessary for growth, the maintenance of the market share and for the continual expansion and exploration of business opportunities, yet difficult to secure sustainable communities. The results of an SPSS statistical analysis show that business innovative technology and new thinking capabilities are not so designed to promote environmental accountability and social welfare, but rather to enhance corporations’ growth. The insufficient poor understanding of business management of the enterprise’s externality contributes to corporations’ poor environmental performance. This contribution, which might be the subject matter of possible future research, exposes corporations’ inability to promote sustainable stakeholder communities and environmental responsibility, contrary to the perceptions that business innovation works for environmental sustainability.