The Bank of Industry (BOI) is set to host the 2026 edition of its Sustainability Conference bringing together business leaders, policymakers, investors and sustainability practitioners to examine how Nigerian businesses can integrate sustainable practices into their operations while improving resilience and profitability.
The conference, which will take place on November 17 in Victoria Island, Lagos, will centre on the theme “Green, Resilient & Profitable: Redefining Nigerian Businesses for a Sustainable World.” Its programme will feature keynote addresses, panel sessions, masterclasses and fireside chats focused on promoting sustainable business growth and resilience.
Leading the conference’s lineup of speakers is Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BOI, who will serve as Chief Host, while Dr. Christopher O. Isokpunwu, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, will attend as Special Guest of Honour.
The keynote address will be delivered by Zubaida A. Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Other featured contributors include Jacky Amprou, Country Director for Nigeria at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), who will deliver an industry insight address, and Tariye Gbadegesin, Chief Executive Officer of Climate Investment Funds, who will deliver a goodwill message. Rotimi Akinde, Executive Director, Corporate Finance, Sustainability and Investments at BOI, will serve as host.
Beyond the opening addresses, the conference will feature conversations on the business opportunities and leadership decisions shaping Nigeria’s sustainability landscape.
Among the sessions is a fireside chat by Ifedolapo Runsewe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Freee Recycle Limited, titled “Built, Not Given: Leading the Business of Sustainability as a Woman.” The discussion will examine the experiences, opportunities and challenges involved in building and leading sustainability-focused businesses as a woman.
Drawing from her experience at Freee Recycle Limited, Runsewe is expected to share insights into recycling, waste management and the circular economy, particularly the entrepreneurial decisions required to transform environmental challenges into viable business opportunities.
Other contributors include Yosola Onanuga of Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, who is scheduled to discuss how WACOT Rice rebuilt its value chain in response to climate-related business risks, and Farouk Gumel, Vice Chairman of TGI Group, who will examine the relationship between sustainability, capital and leadership in building resilient food systems across Africa.
Eunice Sampson, a Director at Ernst & Young, will also lead a masterclass on embedding sustainability in youth-led businesses.
The programme will further address climate-risk management, green financing, renewable energy, resource efficiency, decarbonisation and ESG adoption. It will also feature an ESG Diagnostic Clinic designed to help participating businesses assess their sustainability practices and identify areas for improvement.
Through the conference, BOI seeks to encourage Nigerian businesses to move beyond viewing sustainability solely as an environmental obligation and recognise its potential to strengthen competitiveness, improve operational efficiency and create long-term economic value.
As businesses navigate climate-related risks, changing market expectations and the need for more efficient production systems, the conference is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, explore investment opportunities and identify practical approaches to building more resilient enterprises.
