By Juliet Umeh

Nigeria’s leading figures in business, finance, and sustainability have reaffirmed their commitment to driving Africa’s green transition as the 2025 ESG Forum prepares to open in Lagos.

At the media launch held on Monday ahead of the ESG Masterclass on October 28 and the main Forum on October 29, speakers underscored the need for Africa to define a sustainability model that matches its realities, one that tackles energy poverty while promoting economic inclusion and environmental balance.

Now in its third year, the Forum will be held under the theme “Energy Security and Decarbonisation: Bridging the Gap for a Sustainable Future.”
It is expected to convene public and private sector leaders, investors, and innovators shaping Africa’s response to climate and energy challenges.

Chair of the ESG Forum Technical Committee and External Affairs Director, BAT West and Central Africa, Mrs. Odiri Erewa-Meggison, captured the urgency of the conversation, noting that Africa must not merely import global sustainability standards but define its own context.
“Our conversation is not just about reducing emissions, it is about expanding opportunity. We must look for solutions that ensure energy fuels factories, lights homes, and sustains livelihoods,” she said.

Erewa-Meggison added that collaboration remains key to Africa’s energy transition, stressing that the journey must be inclusive and equitable. “The transition is not only about what we stop doing, but what we build in its place — innovation, local capacity, and inclusive progress,” she noted.

From the financial sector, Mrs. Tosin Leye-Odeyemi, Head of Risk and Capital Management at Stanbic IBTC Holdings, said financing remains the backbone of sustainable development. “Transition financing is not a buzzword; it is the backbone of implementation. We must de-risk sustainability investments and build blended finance structures that attract both public and private capital,” she said.

She called for financial models that reward responsibility and long-term value creation, urging businesses to innovate around green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, and instruments that reflect Africa’s development priorities.

Adding the agribusiness perspective, Mrs. Yosola Onanuga, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at TGI Group, said food and energy security must be addressed together.
“By integrating renewable energy into agricultural production and processing, agribusinesses can lower costs, reduce emissions, and build resilience for communities most vulnerable to climate shocks,” she said.

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Halimat Shuaibu, Head of Business Communication and Sustainability at BAT West and Central Africa, emphasized the Forum’s goal of turning conversations into measurable outcomes.
“This Forum is a collaborative commitment to align profit with purpose, and growth with responsibility,” she stated.

Supported by Stanbic IBTC Holdings, BAT Nigeria, Seplat Energy, NBC, and TGI Group, the ESG Forum 2025 continues to serve as a platform for shaping sustainable business leadership across Africa.