Developing Responsible Leadership in the context of Corporate Governance of the Nigerian Banking System

Titus, Opeyemi

Abstract

The daily challenges faced by many Nigerian banks are compounded by increasing stakeholder demands. Managers find themselves juggling multiple accountabilities to both stakeholders and shareholders, positioning bank leadership in a delicate balance between the profit-driven objectives of the banks and the fulfilment of corporate social responsibility (CSR). This thesis conceives such dilemmas as tensions in responsible leadership practices, arising when the manager’s profitability priorities are at odds with the expectations of other stakeholders. Therefore, responding to these dilemmas is likely to call for bank leaders to be socially responsible to their various stakeholders and shareholders within the corporate governance structure of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Furthermore, it is crucial for the Nigerian banking industry to integrate social responsibility into its corporate culture and cultivate responsible leaders to fulfil its mandate. The research's primary objectives were to investigate how bank managers perceive responsible leadership, understand the influence of these perceptions on their CSR practices, identify challenges hindering responsible leadership in the Nigerian banking sector, and explore strategies for promoting responsible leadership.
Adopting an interpretivist-constructionist perspective, the study employed a qualitative approach to delve into the lived experiences of Nigerian bankers. Data was collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews involving 33 participants, comprising eleven (11) senior, thirteen (13) middle, and nine (9) junior-level managers.
Triangulation of data was achieved through insights from both managers and relevant literature. Data collected was analysed using the three stages of Thematic Analysis process.
Consistent with existing literature, the study's findings revealed that responsible leadership is perceived through coercive, normative, and mimetic lenses within the Nigerian Banking Sector. This research contributes empirically to the investigation of responsible leadership practices in a developing country, filling a gap in the existing literature. The implications of the findings extend to both theory and practice, offering an institutional framework for responsible leadership specific to the Nigerian context. In practice, the findings of this study serve as a useful reference for practitioners and policy makers in the banking industry to succeed as leaders. However, it is essential to note that the scope of this research is limited to the banking sector, and generalizability to other sectors may require similar investigations. Future research could employ quantitative methods to test these findings across the broader Nigerian banking sector and build upon the conclusions drawn in this study.

Citation

Titus, O. Developing Responsible Leadership in the context of Corporate Governance of the Nigerian Banking System. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4866452

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 15, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 25, 2024
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4866452
• Additional Information: Business School; University of Hull
• Award Date: May 10, 2024