INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING QUALITY OF INTERNATIONAL BANKS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Demands for corporate transparency have intensified, forcing firms to provide clearer disclosures on environmental impact, resource management, and ethical governance. This study evaluates how distinct dimensions of information technology (IT) investment affect sustainability reporting quality among listed international banks in Nigeria from 2010 to 2025. Grounded in the Resource-Based View, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, and Stakeholder Theory, the empirical model isolates three specific IT investment vectors: infrastructure, data analytics capabilities, and cyber security. Reporting quality is evaluated using a Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) disclosure index mapped to IFRS S1 and S2 standards. Analyzing panel data from all seven listed international banks via pooled Ordinary Least Squares and robust regression estimators, the results indicate that infrastructure investment yields a positive but statistically insignificant effect. While investments in data analytics capabilities and cyber security significantly drive reporting quality. These findings demonstrate that specialized analytics tools and security architectures influence credible disclosures far more than foundational hardware alone. Financial institutions must prioritize analytical depth and digital defense over simple hardware accumulation to meet modern stakeholders and regulatory expectations.