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At the inaugural FITC Sustainability & ESG Conference, leading figures from Nigeria’s financial and regulatory sectors called for a transformative approach to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, urging institutions to embed ESG into core business strategies rather than treating it as a compliance checkbox.
Held under the theme “Building a Prosperous Future: Unlocking Growth Opportunities Through Sustainability & ESG Innovation,” the conference highlighted ESG as a critical enabler of national development, institutional resilience, and long-term competitiveness.
In her welcome address, Dr. Chizor Malize, Managing Director/CEO of FITC, underscored ESG as the emerging global business language and a driver of institutional transformation.
“ESG is not a buzzword. It is the business language of the future,” she affirmed. “Through the FITC Sustainability and ESG Institute, we are developing the competencies, coalitions, and courage needed to help African institutions lead in this new era.”
Malize noted that FITC’s role has expanded beyond knowledge dissemination to shaping policy, influencing national and continental sustainability agendas, and strengthening institutional capabilities for responsible growth.
Acting Managing Director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mrs. Emily Osuji, echoed these sentiments, stressing that ESG should not be viewed in isolation but integrated into governance models, investment strategies, and youth development initiatives.
“Sustainability cannot be a siloed agenda,” Osuji remarked. “It must shape how we govern, invest, and prepare the next generation.”
She noted that ESG is now central to institutional agility and global relevance, particularly for Nigeria’s financial ecosystem. She highlighted NDIC’s proactive adoption of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (S1 and S2) under the Financial Reporting Council’s voluntary compliance window—well ahead of the 2028 mandate for public interest entities.
“ESG must be treated not merely as a regulatory requirement, but as a lever for innovation, capital attraction, and risk mitigation,” she added.
Osuji also emphasized the importance of localising sustainability goals to align with Nigeria’s unique socioeconomic challenges and development priorities.
“A prosperous future must be both environmentally sustainable and economically strategic. We must invest in practical solutions—from clean energy and climate-resilient agriculture to inclusive finance and green infrastructure,” she concluded.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), a leading authority on corporate governance and Chairman of the FITC ESG Advisory Board, warned against superficial ESG efforts and advocated for systemic change.
“Sustainability is not a PR stunt—it’s a governance imperative,” Ajogwu declared. “Companies that fail to embed ESG into their strategy will be outperformed and out-funded. The cost of inaction is increasing.”
Ajogwu further called for the creation of a National ESG Framework, one that aligns with African realities and values while being benchmarked against global best practices. Such a framework, he argued, would provide a coherent blueprint for institutional alignment, sustainable investments, and policy coherence.
The conference reinforced a growing consensus: ESG principles are no longer optional or ornamental—they are essential levers for driving innovation, building institutional trust, and shaping a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Nigeria.
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