Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Agency Banking has emerged as a critical factor shaping shareholder value across organizations operating in and around Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how agency banking relates to shareholder value has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Within the context of Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of agency banking on shareholder value, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While agency banking is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on shareholder value within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to agency banking are helping or hindering shareholder value — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Agency Banking on shareholder value in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which agency banking influences shareholder value within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with agency banking in relation to shareholder value.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing agency banking in order to improve shareholder value.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of agency banking on shareholder value in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does agency banking influence shareholder value within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with agency banking in relation to shareholder value?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize agency banking in order to improve shareholder value?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around shareholder value. For managers and practitioners within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how agency banking can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on finance / banking by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this PhD study confines itself to Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how agency banking relates to shareholder value within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.