Experts Call on Nigeria to Strengthen Impact Investing for Sustainable Development

The Chairperson of Nigeria’s National Advisory Board for Impact Investing, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, has emphasized the transformative power of impact investing in addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges and unlocking value across key sectors.

Speaking at a high-level roundtable in Lagos on Monday—held ahead of the 2025 Africa Impact Summit Study Tour—Awosika, who also serves as Vice Chairperson of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment, called for structural reforms and policy innovation to scale impact investments across the country.

“Impact investing can tackle issues in education, agriculture, youth employment, and enterprise development,” she said. “To deliver true impact, we must transform our processes—this means reforming policies, activating value chains, and involving key players to drive sustainable growth.”

Awosika noted that Nigeria’s journey into impact investment began in 2019 and that the foundational ecosystem is now taking shape. She urged a more coordinated approach involving government, private sector actors, activists, and international partners.

“A thriving economy requires the right policies. Foreign investors can leave, but local investors stay—so our system must prioritize and protect domestic business,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, Ms. Etemore Glover, CEO of the Impact Investors Foundation, highlighted the urgent need to close the gender finance gap.

“There’s a $42 billion funding gap between male- and female-led SMEs. Closing this gap is critical,” Glover said, while advocating for regional policies that reduce transaction costs and support cross-border trade.

Dr. Emeka Vitalis, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, noted that President Tinubu’s administration has introduced several initiatives aimed at stabilizing the naira and empowering youth entrepreneurs through government-backed loans and grants.

“These programmes are giving young Nigerians access to capital and a path into impact investing. With continued support, the ecosystem will grow stronger,” he said.

Stakeholders at the roundtable concluded that Nigeria must build robust systems, implement long-term investment-friendly policies, and mobilize both public and private capital to scale up impact investing, particularly for MSMEs and underserved groups.