The Lagos Business School (LBS) Sustainability Centre has concluded the inaugural cohort of the Impact Planning and Measurement in Social Investment Projects Seminar, a four-day virtual executive course held from October 7–10, 2025. The programme was designed to build the capabilities of sustainability and development professionals to deliver measurable, accountable, and long-term outcomes through social investments across Africa.
With billions spent by corporates, philanthropists, and development organisations to improve lives, a troubling gap persists between financial expenditure and sustainable impact. Many interventions in Africa still prioritise activities over transformation, with intervention activities and community projects that collapse once funding stops. Recognising this critical challenge, the LBS Sustainability Centre convened the Impact Planning and Measurement in Social Investment Projects Programme to strengthen the design, execution, and evaluation of social initiatives in a way that ensures real, lasting change for the communities they serve.
Throughout the programme, participants explored how evidence-based planning, inclusive stakeholder engagement, robust monitoring systems, and ethical leadership can shift social investments from intentions and activities to tangible outcomes that impact long-term well-being. Participants also examined global frameworks for impact measurement, including Theory of Change, SDGs alignment, evaluation tools, and digital technologies for real-time decision-making. Through case studies, peer learning, and expert-led discussions, they gained practical skills to institutionalise governance, strengthen accountability, and communicate results meaningfully to stakeholders and funders.
The sessions were delivered by leading experts and practitioners, including Oreva Atanya, Director of the LBS Sustainability Centre; Dayo Oluwole of Kasher Consulting; Dr. Akolade Oladipupo, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Expert; Theresa Daniel-Akibor, Programme Manager, LBS Sustainability Centre; Abbas Agbaje, Sustainability Consultant, ImpactCrest; Akinwunmi Akowonjo, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager at Youth Business International; Samuel Ikani, Managing Director, Insights and Strategy Consulting; and Flora Gabtony, Ethical Leadership Strategist and Founder of GAPEthics. Their real-world perspectives offered participants practical insights into how effective impact measurement unlocks scale, improves credibility, and attracts investment for social projects.
“Every participant who completed this programme is now better positioned to design solutions that make a measurable difference,” expressed Theresa Daniel-Akibor, Programme Manager, LBS Sustainability Centre. “I am confident that their work will amplify progress, accelerate social change, and build a future where development outcomes are sustainable and inclusive.”
Speaking during the session, Mrs Oreva Atanya, Director, LBS Sustainability Centre, emphasised the urgency of building strong institutions capable of driving solutions to Africa’s most pressing development and sustainability challenges. Participants were encouraged to become champions of long-term social progress by strengthening internal systems, engaging communities as co-owners of change, and deploying resources to address root causes rather than just visible symptoms.
As members of the expanding LBS Sustainability Centre alumni network, participants now join a growing movement of leaders shaping a future where every social investment is thoughtful, accountable, and truly transformative. By enhancing the effectiveness of social spending, the programme contributes to a more sustainable and equitable continent, one where impact is not only achieved but sustained.
The Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre remains committed to supporting Africa’s development ecosystem with world-class knowledge, capacity-building, and partnerships that move organisations from good intentions to meaningful and measurable change.
Lagos Business School is Africa’s leading management education institution and the LBS Sustainability Centre is a leading knowledge centre that brings together the theory and practice on business and sustainability for the advancement of performance and development outcomes. For more information about the initiatives and upcoming events of the Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre, please contact sustainabilitycentre@lbs.edu.ng. Together we can work towards a sustainable future for businesses and communities on the continent. For more information on our programmes, visit: https://sustainabilitycentre.lbs.edu.ng/training/
