The highly anticipated LBS Sustainability Centre’s Global Convening hosted hundreds of business leaders virtually at the 2-Day International Sustainability Conference on November 28 and 29, 2024, themed “Building Africa’s Future: Integrating Sustainability, Equity, and Innovation”. The conference was held in collaboration with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Africa, Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI), Nestlé Nigeria, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, and had high-level participation of international and industry-leading organisations and business stakeholders across Africa and beyond.
The conference kicked off with the Opening Remarks from Prof. Chris Ogbechie, Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS), who pointed to the growing need for business leaders and professionals to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to implement sustainable practices in their organisations. “As we aim to build a prosperous Africa, our institutions must lead the way in embedding sustainability in their educational frameworks, preparing the next generation of leaders to tackle global challenges,” Prof. Ogbechie affirmed. 
This followed with the keynote address from Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), who emphasised the critical need for sustainable infrastructure financing. Zubairu highlighted the urgency of a unified effort among African governments, businesses, and financial institutions to address the continent’s infrastructure deficit and advance the sustainable development goals (SDGs). “Africa must take ownership of its future by investing in infrastructure that supports economic development while protecting our environment,” Zubairu stated, setting the tone for the discussions that followed.
Keynote Speaker, Samaila Zubairu, President, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) delivering his keynote address at the 2024 ISC
Bastian Buck, Chief Standards Officer, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), highlighted the significance of transparency in sustainability reporting in his Goodwill Remarks. Buck argued that sustainability metrics should not be optional but a fundamental part of how businesses measure success. “Companies must go beyond profit maximisation to include environmental and social performance in their reporting,” he said. “Only then can we achieve a true, transparent, and sustainable economy.”
Africa’s growing food insecurity was the the focus of the first panel session themed, “Innovative Strategies for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems in Africa,” It comprised seasoned professionals in the agriculture and fast-moving consumer goods space, namely: Jeroen Elfers, former Global Dairy Director, FrieslandCampina; Femi Aiki, CEO, Foodlocker; Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Lead, Nestlé Nigeria; Ade Adefeko, Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, Olam Agri Nigeria; and Chinwe Obi, Sustainability Manager, Nestlé Nigeria, who moderated the session.
They all shared insights on how innovation and sustainable agricultural practices can enable regenerative agriculture to build long-term resilience for our food systems to feed the continent. They echoed that Agriculture in Africa holds the key to not just food security, but also environmental sustainability. By empowering smallholder farmers and adopting sustainable techniques, we can build systems that support both people and the planet. This was followed by an insight presentation by Kpante Koutando, Regenerative Agriculture Project Manager at Olam Agri who emphasised the importance of regenerative agriculture, in rebuilding soils, increasing biodiversity, and improving the livelihoods of farmers.
The second panel discussion, themed, “Industrial Policies to Boost Production and Non-Oil Exports” focused on how to diversify Africa’s economy through industrial policies that encourage innovation, create jobs, and reduce dependence on oil. Moderated by Isioma Utomi, CEO, Catalyst Experience Solutions, the panel comprised Jonathan Aremu, Facilitator, Industry, Trade, and Investment Policy Commission, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG); Mrs Adesuwa Ladoja, CEO, Lagos Free Zone; and Dr. Silk Ogbu, Associate Professor, Lagos Business School.
They were unanimous in their discussions that to truly diversify, Africa needs robust policies that stimulate industrial growth, promoting manufacturing, technology, and sustainable trade.The discussion was rich with insights on economic strategies that will drive long-term sustainable growth across the continent, underscoring the importance of industrialisation and policy reforms in promoting sustainability. “Sustainability is not just about green initiatives—it’s about creating policies that encourage innovation, drive sustainable industrial practices, and diversify our economies,” Aremu said.
A novel addition was made to this year’s ISC. Participants had the opportunity to broaden their knowledge base through masterclasses at the end of the ISC proceedings. The first Masterclass titled, ‘Managing ESG Data for Decision-Making and Reporting’ was delivered in partnership with PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and facilitated by Marilyn Obaisa-Osula, Partner and Head -ESG, Sustainability and Climate, PWC. The second masterclass titled “ESG in Corporate Sustainability: How Reporting Practices are Shaping the Future of Business” was delivered in partnership with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and facilitated by Seakle Godschalk and Maryna Mohr, Executive Directors, Environmental and Sustainability Solutions (ESS), South Africa.
On day 2, the panel session themed’ Driving Economic Inclusion and Ensuring Positive Social Impact Through Businesses’ moderated by Dr. Jubril Adeojo, Founder, SMEFunds Capital, highlighted how Africa can mobilise financial resources for sustainable development. Other panel session members were: Tiekie Barnard, CEO, Shared Value Africa Initiative; Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, CEO, Kratos Consulting; Dimeji Olaniyan, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Sustainability, Airtel Africa; and Evelyn Serro, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Safaricom, Kenya; They indicated that Africa cannot afford to leave any sector or group behind, Africa must create an ecosystem where every individual has access to economic opportunities, irrespective of their background.
Highlights of day 2 were goodwill remarks by Tiekie Barnard, CEO, Shared Value Africa, and insight and case presentations delivered by Tochukwu Ezeukwu, Regional Director, Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), West Africa, and Daniel Oderinde, Country Manager, Nigeria National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), respectively. Ezeukwu’s presentation was titled, “Impact Investing as a Path Forward: Action Points for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future in Africa.” He said, “Impact investing is not just about returns; it is about reshaping the future of Africa. Every dollar invested in sustainable development is a step closer to a thriving, inclusive economy.” His message was clear: Africa’s growth must be built on investments that prioritise both people and the planet.
The session on “Partnership for Sustainable Development Outcomes: The Case of Nigeria National Roadmap on Plastic Waste Pollution Management” revealed efforts by Nigeria NPAP to tackle plastic pollution and how the circular economy offers the blueprint for solving the plastic waste crisis. Daniel said, “By recycling and reusing materials, we can reduce our environmental footprint while creating a sustainable economy.”
The conference closed with a stirring Call to Action by Orevaoghene Atanya, Director, LBS Sustainability Centre, who rallied attendees to act with urgency. “We cannot wait any longer. Africa must lead the way in sustainability. The ideas and strategies discussed here must move beyond conversations — they must be implemented, scaled, and measured because our future depends on it.”
The 2024 ISC proved to be more than just an event, it was a clarion call for leaders to take bold action and implement transformative solutions that will secure Africa’s future. With powerful messages from speakers, the conference successfully highlighted the critical need for sustainability in every aspect of business and governance. As Africa charts its course toward a sustainable future, this conference has set the stage for long-lasting change, with all participants committed to being a part of this global movement. Read the full communique of the 2024 ISC here.
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 forums, visit: https://lbssustainabilitycentre.edu.ng/forum/
