Mission Statement Attributes and Employee Engagement in the Nigerian Banking Sector: Evidence from Ogun state, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigerian banks have mission statements like many other corporate firms; they struggle to keep their workforce engaged. One critical yet often overlooked factor is the clarity and impact of the mission statement. Literature has not documented the nexus between attributes of these mission statements and employee engagement. As a guiding principle, a mission statement has the potential to inspire and align employees with organizational goals and values. Against transformational leadership theory, this study examines the impact of mission statement on employee engagement in the banking sector in Ogun State. The study employed the descriptive survey design. A sample of 154 employees was selected from nine deposit money banks in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state for the study. Primary data was collected using a well-validated instrument. The findings from the regression analysis revealed that clarity and specificity of mission statement has positive significant effect on employee engagement. Also, effective communication of mission statement has positive significant effect on employee engagement. Moreover, employee personal connection to mission statement has positive significant effect on employee engagement. The three independent constructs also collectively have significantly predict employee engagement. The study concluded that mission clarity, its effective communication, and employees’ personal connection to it significantly boosts employee engagement. . Organizations aiming to improve engagement should prioritize not only the content of their mission but also how it is shared and internalized, ensuring it resonates personally with employees and drives a shared sense of purpose and direction.