By Aduragbemi Omiyale
As a country with abundant natural and human resources, Nigeria has been identified as better positioned to embrace sustainable finance principles and attract investment for the continent’s much-needed growth and development.
This was stated by the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Lamido Yuguda, during a lecture to mark the commemoration of the IOSCO World Investor Week with the theme Investor Resilience and Sustainable Finance, held Friday in Abuja.
The IOSCO World Investor Week is an annual event coordinated by IOSCO, which encourages its members, and securities regulators around the world to commemorate their respective jurisdictions to promote investor education and protection.
Mr Yuguda, represented by the SEC’s Executive Commissioner Operations, Mr Dayo Obisan, stated that the theme for this year’s WIW, ‘Investor Resilience’ and ‘Sustainable Finance’, demonstrates the high-value IOSCO places on investor protection and the environment, especially in the context of the global pandemic and other challenges such as inflationary pressures, uncertainties occasioned by geopolitical tensions, and continued environmental degradation.
According to him, “Indeed, the themes, undoubtedly, further place emphasis on the universal call for sustainable finance and its resultant economic growth and development. There is no doubt, therefore, that all jurisdictions must think of transiting from exploiting nature to restoring nature.
“It is worthy of note that SEC through the market development department, has done well to outline robust activities for the week-long global events.”
The SEC boss said sustainable finance has evolved as a global concept, and the world firmly stands together to promote the transition to a low-carbon, more resource-efficient economy towards building a financial system that incentivises sustainable growth across nations.
“World over, issuers and investors are embracing the idea of sustainable investing and environment-friendly projects, hence the significant surge in sustainable investment within the last few years, which is apparently driven mainly by investors’ desire for a cleaner, healthier and more equitable future.
“The commission, as a regulator, is very much aware of its critical role in ensuring that the financial sector is steered towards green investments through its policies and regulations.
The DG said it is in early recognition of the importance of sustainable finance, the commission came up with Rules on Green Bonds in 2018, and already three approvals were granted to some corporate Issuers. The organisation also issued Rules on Social Bonds in 2021.
In his remarks, Director Market Development Department, Mr Nestor Ikeagu, said the IOSCO WIW is an annual global week-long event aiming to promote investor education and protection and strengthen collaborations among member jurisdictions.
To commemorate the IOSCO WIW 2022, the Commission embarked on activities, such as enlightenment outreaches, social media campaigns and radio appearances, to mention a few.
Topics covered during the week presented participants with opportunities to discuss and reflect on what boosts and enhances investor resilience in the market, as well as sustainable finance as it involves making investment decisions that consider not only financial returns but also environmental, social, and governance factors.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Dipo Olowookere