Journal of Management & Corporate Sustainablity

This article examines the nexus between social exclusion of women and persistent poverty in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Anchored in feminist and intersectional theoretical perspectives, the study explores how entrenched cultural norms, patriarchal structures, and economic marginalization reinforce women’s exclusion from decision-making, land ownership, and income-generating opportunities. Drawing on qualitative data from in-depth interviews with women, community leaders, and local stakeholders, the analysis highlights how systemic inequalities manifest in everyday experiences—ranging from discriminatory inheritance practices to exclusion from community governance and limited access to education and healthcare. The historical context of Eleme reveals that colonial legacies and postcolonial development policies often sidelined women, deepening existing gender hierarchies. Despite the economic significance of Rivers State as an oil-producing hub, women in Eleme remain disproportionately affected by poverty, with environmental degradation further exacerbating their vulnerability. Respondents’ narratives underscore the cyclical relationship between exclusion and poverty, where lack of participation entrenches economic dependency and social invisibility, ultimately sustaining structural inequality. The findings reveal that women’s marginalization in Eleme is not merely a product of cultural traditions but is reinforced by institutional neglect, environmental injustice, and socio-political dynamics that favor male dominance. This paper argues that addressing poverty in Eleme requires a transformative gender-sensitive approach that challenges exclusionary practices, promotes women’s rights to land and resources, and expands their roles in governance and development planning. By situating women’s lived experiences within broader debates in gender studies, the article contributes to understanding how localized patterns of exclusion intersect with poverty, and how such insights can inform inclusive development policies in Nigeria and beyond.

This study is driven by the lack of empirical data on whether ESG disclosures, especially in environmentally sensitive and weakly regulated emerging countries like Nigeria, help oil and gas corporations financially. The major goal is to determine which ESG dimension drives performance in the Nigerian oil and gas business and how environmental, social, and governance disclosure affects EPS. A census of all eight listed Nigerian oil and gas firms was used for ex post facto research. Secondary ESG disclosure data came from sustainability and annual reports, while financial data came from 2022–2023 financial statements. According to multiple regression analysis, environmental and social disclosures have negative but statistically insignificant effects on EPS, showing that they do not improve financial success in the short run. Governance disclosure has a positive and marginally significant influence on EPS, and the model explains 57% of earnings variation, showing governance practices are more value important than environmental and social reporting. The study found that governance disclosure and frameworks drive financial success for Nigerian oil and gas corporations, whereas environmental and social activities may take longer, deeper, or regulatory pressure to affect profitability. Companies should strengthen board structures, independence, and accountability; deepen and integrate environmental and social initiatives into core strategy; and regulators should improve ESG reporting requirements to improve transparency, attract responsible investors, and support long-term financial stability.