The Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) is set to host the inaugural edition of its Sustainability ESG Conference on June 26, 2025, at The Art Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. This landmark event marks a significant step in Africa’s broader efforts to embed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into business strategy and national development.
Under the theme “Building a Prosperous Future: Unlocking Growth Opportunities Through Sustainability and ESG Innovation,” the conference aims to promote meaningful dialogue, foster collaboration across sectors, and accelerate the adoption of ESG frameworks as a cornerstone of responsible business and governance in Africa.
According to Dr. Chizor Malize, Managing Director/CEO of FITC, “At FITC, we understand that ESG is no longer a nice-to-have—it is a business imperative. This conference reinforces our commitment to leading the ESG discourse across Africa and connecting stakeholders to actionable solutions that can transform institutions and society.”
The conference, which is expected to draw delegates from government agencies, regulatory bodies, corporate institutions, academia, civil society, and multilateral organizations, will explore how ESG adoption can fuel inclusive growth, institutional resilience, and investor confidence.
This flagship event is being convened under the auspices of the FITC Sustainability & ESG Institute, which was launched in 2024 to serve as a hub for ESG research, capacity building, and advisory across Africa. Since its establishment, the Institute has become a key player in driving ESG literacy, offering policy guidance and practical tools that enable organizations to adapt to rapidly changing sustainability standards.
The event also seeks to amplify one core message: that sustainability is a journey, and no organization, no matter its size or stage, is exempt from the responsibility of continuous improvement. As Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head of Sustainability at Access Bank Plc, shared at the Institute’s launch, “Understanding that sustainability and ESG are journeys is reassuring; there’s always room for improvement.”
The upcoming conference will welcome thought leaders and speakers from institutions including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), NGX Regulation Ltd., PwC, Seplat Energy, WEMA Bank, Lagos Business School, and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. Their contributions will range from policy strategy and institutional governance to financial disclosures, green investments, and cross-sectoral collaborations.
Participants will engage in keynote sessions, policy panels, breakout workshops, and curated networking forums designed to inspire strategic partnerships. There will also be exhibitions showcasing ESG-driven technologies, frameworks, and case studies tailored to African markets.
As noted by several sustainability leaders at the launch of the Institute, Africa’s unique context—characterized by abundant resources, a youthful population, and growing environmental pressures, demands a localized approach to ESG implementation.
FITC believes that the future of Africa’s competitiveness lies not only in natural resources or digital innovation, but in the quality of its institutions and the integrity of its governance models. By building capacity at the leadership level and investing in platforms like the Sustainability ESG Institute, FITC is helping to lay the foundation for a knowledge-based economy that is ethical, inclusive, and future-fit.
Registration for the conference is currently open. The fee for physical participation is ₦120,000, while virtual attendees can register for ₦50,000 via the FITC website: fitc-ng.com/esg-conference-2025.
