Abstract

This research paper investigates the impact of women in business on the performance of commercial banks in Calabar, Nigeria. The paper explores how the presence of women in various business roles, particularly in leadership and management, affects the financial and operational success of the banking sector. A survey research design was adopted. A sample size of fifty-four (54) respondents was selected from the total population of sixty-two (62) women employees using simple random sampling technique in all the 13 branches of the banks. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a simple linear regression was used to test the hypotheses via SPSS. The research findings showed that the women in business have significant effect on organizational performance in commercial bank branches selected for the study. Specifically, the study revealed that there is a significant and positive effect of women in business on organizational productivity, financial stability, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and innovation. Arising from the findings, the study recommended that organizations whether manufacturing or servicing should ensure gender diversity in their team which will bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table, which can lead to more effective problem-solving and new ideas for improving productivity and innovation. The study also recommended that organizations should encourage women participation in the leadership role as they are often known for their strong communication and empathetic skills, which can lead to higher service quality and improved organizational effectiveness to enhance performance.

Keywords: Women in business, commercial banks, gender diversity, organizational performance, leadership, financial Stability, innovation

Impact Statement

The presence and active participation of women in business have significantly impacted the performance of commercial banks in Calabar, Nigeria. Through increased customer bases, diversified loan portfolios, innovative financial products, and inclusive leadership, women have contributed to the growth and stability of the banking sector. By continuing to support and empower women in business, commercial banks can further enhance their performance and drive sustainable economic development in the region. The inclusion of women in leadership positions within commercial banks has brought diverse perspectives and management styles. Research shows that diverse leadership teams make more balanced decisions and foster innovation. In Calabar, banks with women in senior management roles have reported improved decision-making processes and strategic planning, contributing to better overall performance.

About Author

Otosi Faithpraise Bassey, a lecturer II in the department of business management in the Faculty of Management Sciences at the at the University of Calabar, is responsible for addressing growing needs in management innovation, strategic human resource management, industrial relations, and related areas. He works closely with students and the public to address requirements for small businesses, entrepreneurship, and improvement in the Nigerian business environment, including leadership skills management. He holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accounting, a Post Graduate Diploma (PGDM) in Management, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Business Management, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Management with particular interest on innovation in the financial environment in Nigeria from Cross River State University of Calabar and the University of Calabar, respectively. He has most of his publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Cite this Article

APA (7th ed.): Otosi, F. B., Faithpraise, F. O., & Ubi, I. (2024). The Effect of Women in Business on the Performance of Commercial Banks in Calabar, Nigeria. Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 2(3), 176–194. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9066

Chicago (17th ed.): Otosi, F. Bassey, Fina O. Faithpraise, and Ije Ubi. “The Effect of Women in Business on the Performance of Commercial Banks in Calabar, Nigeria.” Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal 2, no. 3 (2024): 176–194. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9066.

MLA (9th ed.): Otosi, F. Bassey, et al. “The Effect of Women in Business on the Performance of Commercial Banks in Calabar, Nigeria.” Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 2, no. 3, 2024, pp. 176–194. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9066.

Statements & Declarations

Peer Review: The scholarly merit and contribution of this research on women in business and bank performance have been confirmed through a rigorous and independent peer-review process conducted by experts in the relevant disciplines.

Review Type: This article underwent a double-blind peer review, a process in which the identities of the authors (F. Bassey Otosi, Fina O. Faithpraise, and Ije Ubi) and the reviewers were mutually concealed. The review was conducted by subject experts in business management, gender and organizational studies, banking and finance, and corporate performance.

Competing Interests: The authors, F. Bassey Otosi, Fina O. Faithpraise, and Ije Ubi, jointly and individually declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Data Availability: The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study, including survey responses and bank performance indicators, are available from the corresponding author, F.B. Otosi, upon reasonable request. The data are not publicly available due to privacy and confidentiality agreements with the participating commercial banks and women business owners in Calabar, Nigeria.

Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The work was completed using the authors’ institutional resources at the University of Calabar, Nigeria, and personal scholarly efforts.

License: This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 International License. This license permits non-commercial reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.

Ethical Approval: All procedures performed in this study involving human participants (women business owners and bank personnel) were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee. Ethical approval for this research was granted by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the University of Calabar, Nigeria, where all authors are affiliated. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants and from the participating commercial banks included in the study, and their anonymity and confidentiality have been strictly maintained.

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