NECA launches Africa's first ESG implementation guide for MSMEs
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association NECA has introduced Africa’s first Environmental, Social and Governance ESG Implementation Guide for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs. Unveiled by Femi Jaiyeola, Chairman of the NECA ESG Advisory Board, during the 2026 Nigeria Employers’ Summit in Abuja, the guide aims to bolster business sustainability, enhance competitiveness, and align Nigerian firms with global investment standards. Jaiyeola emphasized that MSMEs are vital to Nigeria's economy and require practical tools to thrive in a sustainability-focused global market. He noted that ESG principles have evolved beyond mere compliance to become a crucial business survival strategy, with ESG reporting expected to become mandatory in Nigeria by 2030. The guide provides a step-by-step roadmap for small businesses to adopt ESG principles, offering benefits such as improved access to finance, stronger investor confidence, better market positioning, and long-term resilience. This initiative follows a national ESG assessment conducted by NECA with support from the International Labour Organisation ILO. Six NECA officials are currently undergoing specialized ESG training at the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, Italy, to subsequently train MSMEs across Nigeria. Adewale Smart Oyerinde, Director-General of NECA, highlighted the necessity of inclusive economic reforms supported by the organized private sector. The launch addresses a global trend where ESG complianc
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