CORPORATE BOARD DIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING IN OIL AND GAS FIRMS IN NIGERIA

This study investigates how corporate board diversity affects environmental sustainability reporting in Nigeria oil and gas firms using data from 2011 to 2022. This study’s primary focused on the negative effects of oil spills in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. Expost-facto research design was used as a guide while multiple regression analysis was used in analyzing the data. Results indicate negative but statistically significant relationship between environmental sustainability reporting and board size (BSZ), a negative but statistically insignificant relationship between gender diversity and environmental sustainability reporting and board nationality (BNAT), and a negative but statistically insignificant relationship between gender diversity (BGD) and environmental sustainability reporting. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between environmental sustainability reporting and board independence (BIND), even if the correlation was not statistically significant. The study concludes that, despite the majority of independent variables showing a negative correlation with environmental sustainability reporting, corporate board diversity is believed to have a higher impact on corporate information disclosure. Boards of Nigeria oil and gas firms may exert more influence over environmental sustainability reporting if their numbers were fewer. The study recommend that smaller boards should be encouraged in order to promote effective information disclosure. It was also recommended that the Nigeria government and corporate organization should be aware of their immediate responsibility in protecting and maintaining the natural environment.