Corporate Social Responsibility Practices and Employee Engagement in the Nigerian Banking Sector: A Study of Selected Banks in Lagos

This study investigated the relationship between corporate social responsibility practices and employee engagement in the Nigerian banking sector, with specific reference to selected banks in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. Corporate social responsibility refers to the voluntary commitments organizations make to conduct their business in an ethical, socially beneficial, and environmentally responsible manner. As the financial services sector increasingly adopts CSR frameworks, questions arise about how these practices influence the psychological engagement and organizational commitment of employees. A correlational survey design was adopted. The population comprised 450 employees across five selected commercial banks in Lagos Island and Victoria Island. A sample of 225 employees was selected through stratified random sampling. Two validated instruments, the CSR Practice Scale and the Employee Engagement Inventory, were used for data collection. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were employed for data analysis. Findings indicate a significant positive relationship between CSR practices and employee engagement, with community development and ethical governance dimensions having the strongest association with employee commitment. Banks with formal CSR departments and transparent CSR reporting were perceived more favorably by employees. The study recommends that banks in Nigeria should formalize their CSR strategies and communicate them effectively to employees as part of internal branding, as this significantly enhances workforce motivation and retention. Keywords: corporate social responsibility, employee engagement, banking sector, Lagos State, organizational commitment