Impact of Corporate Governance on Sustainable Management Practices: “A Strategy for Achieving Long-Term Success”. Evidence from Selected Cement Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria (2015-2025)

Corporate Governance Structures Sustainable Management Economic Environmental and Social Sustainability Indicators

Authors

  • Christopher Mbam Nwuzor
    christopher.nwuzor@ebsu.edu.ng
    Department of Accountancy, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
  • Esther U. Nweke-Charles Department of Accountancy, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
  • E. Oko Egwu Department of Accountancy, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
  • Ori Bertha Chinyere Department of Accountancy, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
  • John Nwuguru Mbam Department of Business Management and Entrepreneurship, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
  • Okwu Peter Ifeanyi Department of Accountancy, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
October 26, 2026

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This study examined the impact of corporate governance on sustainable management practices of cement manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the influence of board independence, audit committee effectiveness, and gender diversity on sustainable management. An ex post facto research design was adopted, using a population of three listed cement firms, from which a sample of two firms, Dangote Cement Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc, was selected through purposive sampling. Secondary data were obtained from audited annual reports and sustainability disclosures for the period 2015 - 2025. Descriptive statistics and panel regression analysis were employed, with the Hausman specification test supporting the use of the random effects model for hypothesis testing. The findings revealed that: board independence has a significant negative effect on sustainable management; audit committee effectiveness has a significant negative effect on sustainable management; gender diversity has a significant positive effect on sustainable management. In conclusion, governance mechanisms can either constrain or enhance sustainable management depending on how they are structured and utilized within the firm’s internal system of decision making and accountability. The study recommended that the board of directors of Dangote Cement Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc should ensure that board independence is not treated only as a compliance requirement but is actively integrated into sustainability decision making processes, by strengthening engagement between non- executive directors and operational sustainability units so that oversight contributes more directly to sustainable management outcomes.