IMPACT OF SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING ON CORPORATE PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED QUOTED COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

Description

The principal objective of this research is to ascertain the Impact of Sustainability Reporting on Corporate Performance of Selected Quoted Companies in Nigeria. The specific objectives of this research are: to ascertain the level of impact of sustainability reporting on return on equity of companies listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange; to examine the level of impact of sustainability reporting on return on assets of companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange; to ascertain the level of impact of sustainability reporting on earnings per share of companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange; to examine the level of impact of sustainability reporting on net profit margin of companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. This research employed ex-post facto design. The sample for the study was made up of 64 companies selected from 76 non financial companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. This research utilised secondary data. A model specification based on regression model was used. The statistical technique employed in testing the hypotheses was the student t – test statistic. Findings from this study show that Sustainability Reporting impacted positively on financial performance of companies investigated. Companies are therefore encouraged to adopt this reporting system.

Adapting organizations (especially firms) to their environments signifies a reciprocal or symbiotic relationship between the ‘duos’ as typ ified by systems model of viewing business. Considering the current environmental crisis, businesses must give more to their environment. The environment in which businesses operate is on an unsustainable course. We are now faced with serious challenge of environmental changes such as global warming, health care and poverty. This situation is similar to what Welford (1997:3) described as tangible environmental crises (serious water shortage across around the world, global food insecurity and decline in fish catches). According to (Vlek & Steg 2007:3), Ezeabasili (2009:369) as human population continue to grow, material consumption intensifies and production technology further expands there is a steady decline in the quantity and quality of environmental resources. There is continuing concern about nature fragmentation and loss of biodiversity, shortages in freshwater availability, over-fishing of the seas, global warming, extreme weather events, air pollution, water pollution, environmental noise and utter neglect and disregard for the protection of the immediate environment, much more the future environment.