The Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) has announced its inaugural edition of the FITC Sustainability ESG Conference, which is set to take place in Lagos.
According to the organisers, the event represents a pivotal step in Nigeria and Africa’s broader journey toward embedding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks into institutional, national and regional development strategies.
Themed “Building a Prosperous Future: Unlocking Growth Opportunities Through Sustainability and ESG Innovation,” the conference is designed to spark strategic conversations, drive intersectoral collaboration and galvanise leaders into adopting ESG principles not as optional frameworks but as central to operational excellence and societal transformation.
The conference is expected to convene multiple delegates spanning government agencies, regulatory bodies, corporates, ESG experts, multilateral institutions, academia and civil society organisations.
Together, these stakeholders will examine how the ESG agenda can serve as a blueprint for inclusive growth, corporate accountability, responsible governance and long-term resilience in the face of global and local uncertainty.
In recent years, global conversations have shifted from “if” organisations should embrace sustainability to “how fast” and “how effectively” they can. Africa, with its unique socio-economic challenges and opportunities, sits at a critical juncture. The pressures of climate change, social inequality and governance deficiencies demand coordinated action and FITC is taking the lead in orchestrating this through high-level engagement platforms like the upcoming ESG Conference.
With Africa home to 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, vast renewable energy potential and a predominantly young population, the continent has a unique opportunity to build a green and inclusive economic future. However, without deliberate action, these assets could be undermined by environmental degradation, weak institutions and a lack of strategic foresight.
According to the managing director/CEO, FITC, Dr Chizor Malize: “At FITC, we understand that ESG is no longer a nice-to-have; it is a business imperative. This conference reinforces our commitment to leading the ESG discourse across Africa and connecting stakeholders to actionable solutions that can transform institutions and society.”
Reinforcing the pragmatic lens, managing director of the Energy Training Centre, Ibiene Okeleke, emphasised that ESG should not be seen as a necessary evil but rather as a strategic advantage tailored to an organisation’s unique context, underscoring the importance of contextualising ESG implementation.
Her remarks reflect a belief that ESG should not be viewed as a burdensome obligation but rather as a strategic enabler, best approached in ways that align with each organisation’s unique operating environment. This pragmatic approach aligns closely with FITC’s philosophy of localisation and ensuring that international frameworks are translated into solutions that reflect the realities of African institutions, economies and communities.
