Essien Oden

Eighty percent of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria (4 out of 5 firms) had negative and fluctuating returns on equity eighty-three percent of the time (5 out of 6 years), while inexplicable fluctuations in philanthropic expenditures, labor costs, and creditor days correspondingly occurred during the 6-year period under review (2018–2023). This study looks at how social initiatives affect the value of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Its specific goal was to determine whether a firm’s value (measured as return on equity) is influenced by the cost of corporate giving, the cost of employee well-being, and the time taken to settle creditors. Data were obtained from the financial reports of 5 companies. the sample of which was judgmentally drawn from 16 listed companies using a quantitative method of research. EViews statistical package was used to analyze data. It was found that investments in social initiatives as supported by corporate giving {B1 = 0.010162, P = .2691 or P > .05}, employee well-being {B2 = .012285, P = .3836 or P > .05}, and obligations to creditors {B3 = .012018, P = .8327 or P > .05} are not value-enhancing in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. In light of the above, it was concluded that listed companies in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria are not legitimately and strategically investing their resources in social initiatives, and corporate value is consequently not enhanced and maximized.