GREEN GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the relationship that exists between Green Governance and Sustainability of SMEs in Anambra State, Nigeria. The specific objectives include; determining the relationship between green human resources management (GHRM) Practice on employee retention as well as the relationship that exists between environmental stewardship on eco-innovation in SMEs in Anambra State, Nigeria. The Study was anchored on stakeholder’s theory, by Freeman in (1984) and employed descriptive survey research design and systematic sampling technique. The population of the study was 243 while the sample size was 151 employees from Plastic Manufacturing firms in Anambra State, Nigeria. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested with Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 27). Findings indicate that Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practice has significant and positive effect on employee retention of Plastic Manufacturing firms in Anambra State, and environmental stewardship also has significant and positive effect on eco-innovation of Plastic Manufacturing firms in Anambra State. The study therefore, concluded that there is a positive and significant relationship between green governance and sustainability of SMEs in the Plastic Manufacturing Firms in Ananbra State, Nigeria. The study recommended that Plastic Manufacturing firms in Anambra State should adopt green governance policies to address the needs of the employees toward achieving sustainability in their performance. It is also necessary to recognize the importance of environmental stewardship toward achieving core capacities and values through eco-innovation that could result to the sustainability of the business operation.