Beyond the Boom: Examining Corporate Governance and DEI Gaps in Nigeria's Emerging Tech Startups

The Nigerian technology startup ecosystem exhibits rapid growth, yet persistent governance deficiencies and DEI gaps threaten its sustainability. This study critically examines corporate governance structures, financial transparency, regulatory compliance, risk management, and DEI practices across leading Nigerian startups, including Carbon, 54gene, Kudi, and Farmcrowdy. Using qualitative document analysis, case studies, and semi-structured interviews, the research identifies systemic weaknesses such as founder-dominated decision-making, inadequate board formation, inconsistent compliance, and limited DEI integration. A governance maturity model is proposed, linking robust governance with DEI institutionalization and enhanced organizational performance. Findings underscore the necessity for founders, investors, and policymakers to collaboratively strengthen governance frameworks and embed DEI as a core operational principle to secure innovation, talent retention, and global competitiveness.