Nigeria Must Leverage $98 98trn Funding To Scale Impact Economy, Says Stakeholders

With approximately $98 trillion in global assets under management, increasingly dedicated to impact investing, experts have charged Nigeria to leverage this to grow its Impact Investing economy.

This is despite experts advocating domestic capital mobilisation to the tune of approximately N200 billion in impact funds via blended vehicles.

The stakeholders who stated this, at the Impact Investors Foundation (IIF)’s 8th Annual Convening on Impact Investing (ACII) in Victoria Island(VI), Lagos, urged stakeholders to galvanise a diverse ecosystem of policymakers, global and local investors, development institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate Nigeria’s impact-ready economy.

Similarly, at the event, the 2025 Nigeria Impact Investing Ecosystem Mapping and Market Sizing Report was launched.

On his part, the CEO of the Impact Investors Foundation, Etemore Glover, said the conference, whose theme is ‘Strengthening and Scaling the Nigeria Impact Economy,’ aims to chart pathways for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The launched report, he said, builds on the 2019 baseline and provides a comprehensive mapping and market sizing of the impact investing ecosystem, even as it offers an evidence-based picture of the market’s structure, trends, and opportunities.

To him, “This data will assist in guiding capital to where it is needed most, translating availability into impact-aligned growth and a more resilient investment ecosystem.”

Glover stated. “We are resolute towards strengthening and scaling the Nigerian Impact Economy. For Nigeria, this acceleration means a more resilient investment ecosystem that delivers measurable social and environmental value alongside financial returns, ultimately building a better future for all Nigerians.”

Speaking on ‘Nigeria’s Impact Investing Ecosystem Mapping and Market Sizing Report: Key Insights and Strategic Opportunities, ‘Regional Representative, Innovision, Global Africa, Iffat Mahmud said, “By leveraging exisiting laws and frameworks, Nigeria can build a coherent policy-to-investment chain,  where fiscal incentives, impact accreditation and regulatory coordination together accelerate the growth of gender-smart, green and inclusive finance. “

She urged the country to launch a National Policy framework, by finalising and adopting a framework for Impact Investing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Debt Management Office (DMO) and Nigeria Exchange (NGX) Limited.

While calling for domestic capital mobilisation of N100 billion to N200 billion in impact funds via blended vehicles, he urged the country to launch two blended facilities, the Green and Gender Bond windows, between 2026 and 2027.

Other experts at the event advocated advancing action across specific high-potential sectors: Climate and Sustainability and Creative Economy, while highlighting the critical need to build a robust impact economy to sustain Nigeria’s recent economic momentum.

Speakers emphasised that sustainability necessitates linking commercial gains with measurable social and environmental impact—essential for capturing a share of the approximately $98 trillion in global assets under management, which is increasingly being dedicated to impact investing.

The convening’s objective was to galvanise a diverse ecosystem of policymakers, global and local investors, development institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate Nigeria’s impact-ready economy. For seven years, the event has fostered dialogue, shared experiences, and charted pathways for inclusive growth.

The 8th ACII was a major catalyst for action, delivering concrete outcomes across three crucial areas: capital mobilisation, regulatory reform, and pipeline strengthening.