Risk Management Governance and Financial Stability of Deposit Money Banks in Benin City

This study investigates the role of risk management governance in ensuring the financial stability of deposit money banks in Benin City, Edo State. Nigeria's banking sector has experienced periodic distress episodes, many of which have been traced to inadequate risk oversight structures at the board and management levels. The Central Bank of Nigeria's risk-based supervisory framework and corporate governance guidelines for banks place explicit responsibilities on risk management committees and board audit structures. This study evaluates how governance mechanisms including risk committee composition, independence, and frequency of engagement relate to bank stability indicators such as non-performing loan ratios, capital adequacy ratios, and liquidity ratios. A descriptive ex-post facto design is adopted, using secondary data from annual reports and CBN supervisory disclosures of eight deposit money banks operating in Benin City over a four-year period. Data are analysed using correlation and multiple regression. The study expects that stronger risk governance structures are positively associated with lower non-performing loan ratios and higher capital adequacy. Findings will offer practical guidance to bank boards, risk managers, and the Central Bank of Nigeria in refining risk governance requirements. This research adds to the South South zone's banking governance literature and has direct policy relevance for financial sector stability. Keywords: risk management governance, financial stability, deposit money banks, corporate governance, Benin City.