Strategic Management and Organisational Leadership in Cybersecurity of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria
Ama Kalu Ikwuo
*
Department of Accounting, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Okoi Etim Iwara
Department of Accounting, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Oboh John Ogenyi
Department of Accounting, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Odama Patrick Ojeka
Department of Accounting, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Enyinnaya Oko Egwu
Department of Accountancy, Ebony State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study examined the effect of strategic planning and leadership commitment on cybersecurity effectiveness in deposit money banks in Nigeria, with information technology infrastructure included as a control variable. The study adopted a quantitative survey research design to assess how managerial and technological factors relate to cybersecurity outcomes in selected banks. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to employees involved in information technology, risk management, internal control, operations, and management functions. Of the 370 questionnaires distributed, 345 valid responses were obtained and used for analysis. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were employed to examine the relationships among the study variables and to test the formulated hypotheses. The results showed that strategic planning had a positive and significant effect on cybersecurity effectiveness, indicating that clearer cybersecurity planning, resource allocation, and periodic risk assessment support improved cyber-risk management. Leadership commitment also had a positive and significant effect, suggesting that management support, funding, policy enforcement, and a cybersecurity-conscious organisational culture contribute to stronger cybersecurity outcomes. In addition, information technology infrastructure had a positive and significant effect on cybersecurity effectiveness, confirming the importance of reliable systems, secure networks, and threat-detection mechanisms. The findings imply that cybersecurity effectiveness in Nigerian deposit money banks depends on the combined influence of strategic planning, committed leadership, and robust information technology infrastructure. The study concludes that cybersecurity should be treated as both a managerial and technological responsibility. It recommends stronger cybersecurity governance, the integration of cybersecurity into strategic planning, increased leadership involvement, and sustained investment in modern information technology infrastructure.
Keywords: Strategic planning, leadership commitment, cybersecurity effectiveness, information technology infrastructure, cyber resilience, deposit money banks, strategic management, organisational leadership, digital risk management, Nigeria.