By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The implementation of the global sustainability disclosure standards developed by the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) in Nigeria would be gradual, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Emomotimi Agama, has said.

According to the SEC chief, Nigeria will not simply “copy and paste” the framework but will adopt a carefully tailored approach.

Speaking at an investors’ roundtable on the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) over the weekend, he explained that Nigeria, having participated in the taskforce that developed the standards, would continue to support the four pillars on which they were built.

He noted that Nigeria, with its vast natural resources and growing population, “is particularly vulnerable to climate change and is simultaneously pursuing an ambitious sustainable finance agenda.”

“This means: capacity building—working with issuers, auditors, and preparers to ensure they understand and are ready for the new requirements; phased implementation—considering a graduated approach, perhaps beginning with larger, listed entities before expanding to others; assurance framework—developing a robust system for the verification of disclosures to guarantee their credibility; and alignment with local realities—ensuring the global baseline is applied in a way that is appropriate and proportional for our market, while maintaining the core goal of global comparability,” he explained.

Mr Agama added that the commission opted for this method “because we believe that embracing this global baseline will enhance the attractiveness of the Nigerian capital market. It signals to international investors that we are serious about transparency, governance, and managing long-term risk. It has transformed the ISSB from a promising new initiative into the definitive global framework for sustainability disclosures.”

According to him, “The case for adoption is clear: for global comparability, for investor trust, for managing systemic risk, and for reducing complexity. This is no longer a question of if, but of how and when. The journey to a sustainable global economy requires a common language. The ISSB has provided that lexicon. IOSCO has called us to speak about it. At SEC Nigeria, we have answered that call.”

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with stakeholders domestically and across the IOSCO network to implement the standards effectively.

“The global perspective is one of unity and decisive action. By adopting the ISSB standards, we are not just complying with a global trend; we are actively building a more stable, transparent, and sustainable financial future for Nigeria, for Africa, and for the world,” he said.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Ecobank Design and Build Exhibition 2025 slated for September 24 to 28 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Lagos, will have two personalities in the real estate business in attendance.

Ecobank, which is behind the event, said the celebrated architect, Mr Christian Benimana, and a leading urban planning scholar, Professor Taibat Lawanson, will grace the programme.

The exhibition’s knowledge exchange sessions will also feature International vs. Local: The Sourcing Question for Interior Design with Patrick Koshoni, Tola Akerele, Aishat Lawal, and Adeyemo Shokunbi; Women in Design & Architecture with Jacqueline Aki, Safiya Yahaya, Nwamaka Okoye, and Sandra Edoho; and insights from Malik Afegbua, Remi Dada, Adewunmi Adegbola, and Omon Anenih, exploring the future of design, technology, wellness, and sustainability.

Mr Benimana, who is the co-founder of the African Design Centre and principal at MASS Design Group, is internationally recognized for advancing socially responsive and sustainable African architecture. He will deliver a keynote address titled Designing the Future on Day 3 of the exhibition.

On her part, Prof Lawanson, who is Leverhulme Professor of Planning and Heritage at the University of Liverpool, will lead a session on Designing Better Cities and Homes in Nigeria on Day 2. The scholar is widely respected for her groundbreaking research on African urban informality, housing, and spatial justice.

“These sessions will deliver practical insights and fresh perspectives that can shape the future of design, construction, and architecture across Africa,” the Head of SMEs at Ecobank Nigeria, Omoboye Odu, noted.

The Ecobank Design and Build Exhibition 2025 underscores the bank’s broader commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, driving financial inclusion, and connecting local businesses with global opportunities.

The lender continues to invest in the growth of SMEs through initiatives such as the Adire Lagos Experience, +234 Art Fair, Ecobank National Schools Team Chess Championship, and Oja Oge 2025. These efforts are complemented by extensive training and empowerment programs designed to strengthen businesses nationwide.

By Adedapo Adesanya

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a collaborative framework aimed at promoting, developing, and improving gas infrastructure in Nigeria.

It was signed on the sidelines of the just-ended fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) by Ms Helen Brume, Director and Global Head – Project and Asset-Based Finance on behalf of Afreximbank, and Mr Oluwole Adama, Executive Director on behalf of MDGIF.

The MoU emphasises private sector-led delivery models and aligns with both institutions’ mandates and strategic priorities.

Under the terms of the MoU, Afreximbank and MDGIF will work together with the overarching intention of mobilising up to $500 million over a four-year period to support midstream and downstream gas infrastructure projects. The investment is structured as a blend of senior debt and equity contributions, considered under both entities’ independent mandates, with a focus on accelerating the modernisation and expansion of Nigeria’s gas sector.

Some of the areas that will be covered by the framework include joint identification and prioritisation of eligible projects, with annual pipeline targets to ensure investment goals are met as well as the provision of direct financing and credit risk guarantees by Afreximbank to support project finance transactions, working alongside local financial institution, and the establishment of a dedicated support, either through funding or a support framework, for feasibility studies, legal structuring, environmental assessments, and other preparatory activities for bankable gas projects.

Others include MDGIF considering equity contributions to complement Afreximbank’s senior debt, enabling full capital structuring for eligible projects, leveraging Afreximbank’s platforms, including the Intra-African Trade Fair, to promote its initiatives and engage stakeholders, and the development of a structured programme to enhance MDGIF’s institutional capabilities in project structuring, risk management, and innovative financing.

Speaking on the partnership, Mrs Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President – Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, said, “We stand ready to work with the MDGIF in advancing the development of gas infrastructure projects in Nigeria, which will add value to the country’s natural resources. This intervention is also important as it aligns with Afreximbank’s Industrialisation and Export Development Agenda.”

On his part, Mr Oluwole Adama, Executive Director of MDGIF, said, “Anchored on our statutory mandate under the Petroleum Industry Act and aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda to harness Nigeria’s gas resources for industrialisation and economic growth, this partnership with Afreximbank enables MDGIF to mobilise capital, expand critical midstream and downstream infrastructure, reduce flaring, and deliver sustainable energy solutions that power industries, create jobs, and improve livelihoods across Nigeria.”