PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH TRANSPARENT FINANCIAL PRACTICES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF BURSARY OPERATIONS AT THE FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OBUDU

Transparent financial management has emerged as a critical driver of sustainability, accountability, and institutional resilience in higher education, particularly within public institutions operating under severe financial constraints. This study empirically examines how transparent financial practices within the Bursary Department of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Obudu contribute to sustainability and green innovation. Adopting a descriptive survey research design, data were collected from bursary staff, internal auditors, procurement officers, and academic administrators using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data. Findings reveal that accountability mechanisms, digitalized financial processes, and efficient resource allocation significantly enhance sustainability outcomes, including reduced waste, improved resource utilization, and strengthened stakeholder trust. The study concludes that bursary operations play a strategic role in advancing sustainability in African higher education institutions and recommends the institutionalization of sustainability-oriented budgeting, full digitalization of financial systems, and continuous capacity building for bursary personnel.