Sustainability
Investing sustainably
Investing sustainably is integral to our mandate and has been a part of the Authority’s approach across its investment and operations activities since inception. As a long-term investor managing Nigeria’s sovereign wealth funds, NSIA is committed to sustainability practices that offer superior risk-adjusted investment returns over the long term.
NSIA integrates sustainability in a manner that acknowledges and respects the diversity of sectors, industries, and markets in which we operate. In all our operations, we conscientiously work to understand how sustainability-related factors impact our institution’s ability to deliver on the mandates while simultaneously exploring avenues to broaden meaningful and positive impacts on the lives of our citizens.
Sustainability at NSIA is a shared responsibility which reports to Risk Management. Functional unit heads are tasked with monitoring and responding to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. At the highest level, the Board superintends the Authority’s Sustainability approach and provides guidance on emerging issues that may affect our portfolio, as well as the ongoing development of NSIA’s detailed and structured framework for sustainability.
Sustainability at NSIA is a shared responsibility which reports to Risk Management. Functional unit heads are tasked with monitoring and responding to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. At the highest level, the Board superintends the Authority’s Sustainability approach and provides guidance on emerging issues that may affect our portfolio, as well as the ongoing development of NSIA’s detailed and structured framework for sustainability.
Our Sustainability Credentials
| A. One Planet SWF Initiative |
| NSIA joined the “One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Initiative” (OPSWF) – launched to accelerate the integration of climate change analysis into the management of large, long-term and diversified asset portfolios. The initiative has grown from 6 SWFs to 43 members with an AUM of $36 trillion |
| B. Columbia University Case study |
| Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (Class of 2022) is working on a project titled: ‘Decarbonizing the Nigerian economy: a life-or-death investment imperative for the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority’. The thesis entails making a business case for gas flaring, deforestation, sustainable agriculture and how carbon credits can be utilized in achieving this. |
| A. Vitol ESG Fund |
| NSIA is collaborating with Vitol as a co-investor for the identification and funding of sustainable development projects that develop clean energy solutions, reducing greenhouse emissions and the creation of Certified Emission Reduction Streams “CERS”. |
| B. Ile Dotun |
| An initiative by the Ogun state government, NSIA, and Lafarge which sets out to revert the rapid deforestation and land degradation in Ogun through the development of climate change resilient landscapes combining sustainable agricultural, live-stock and forestry with substantial areas of restored natural forest and savannah ecosystems. |
| A. Graduate Analyst Programme |
| As part of the NSIA’s contribution towards nation building and in furtherance of its human capital development mandate, the Authority, commenced the Graduate Analyst Programme (“GAP”) which offers an unparalleled opportunity to fresh Nigerian graduates seeking to gain firsthand experience and myriad expense working in the NSIA. GAP is designed to fully immerse the Graduate Analysts in the day-to-day operations of the NSIA over the engagement period through placement and rotation of participants in various units within the Authority. Learn More |
| B. Female Network |
Female Network Aside from being an equal opportunity employer with a strong diversity and inclusion framework, NSIA actively supports the growth and development of female members of staff through a series of programmes one of which is the Female Network. The NSIA Female Network Programme otherwise referred to as “NFNP” is a platform designed to enhance female employees’ professional growth by offering them access to role models and providing information/guidance on professional growth and career development. The programme is designed to provide female staff with the opportunities, tools, networks, and support required to assume leadership roles. The programme primarily focused on the emergence of a balanced woman, who can realise the full expression of her potential. It delved deeper into how women need not kowtow to others or succumb to the dictates of society but instead exercise the willpower to push through difficulty and break free from mental barriers and societal limitations. |
| C. M Series |
M-Powered Series is, one amidst a plethora of initiatives, directed at the male employees at NSIA which serves as a knowledge enhancement initiative aimed at exposing and enhancing male staff disposition to work-life balance and doubles as a mentoring and leadership training to spur male employees to consistently strive to achieve outstanding success in their personal and professional lives. The M Series workshop focused on a range of personal and professional issues including stress management, increasing authenticity in the workplace, managing societal expectations as a man, mental and emotional well-being and striving for balance in workplace and in life. |
ESG Approach
Through Enterprise-wide Focus
On this front, NSIA aims to reduce carbon emissions and overall environmental impact and maintain carbon neutrality across all investment considerations.
Through Investment Processes
The NSIA currently incorporates ESG in its investment process and has done so since inception. However, ESG is being institutionalize across the full investment value chain from deal prospecting to exit. Further, we will maintain a triple bottom approach on all investments. Social and environmental returns will rank alongside commercial return.
Through strategic partnerships
The Authority will continue to explore and forge partnerships with sustainable ESG focused institution, services provides and co-investors.
