The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), focused on unlocking impact capital, has taken a decisive step towards operationalising its Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) roadmap. The Foundation convened a high-level workshop in Lagos, bringing together investors, policymakers, development partners, and private sector leaders.

Held at Four Points by Sheraton, the Nigeria Gender-Smart and Inclusive Capital workshop serves as a critical component of the broader implementation strategy initiated after the launch of Nigeria’s Gender/GESI Roadmap at the 2025 Gender Impact Investment Summit.

The session was designed to transition the ecosystem from high-level commitment to practical execution, equipping institutions with the tools, standards, and data necessary to integrate gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) into capital allocation decisions.

The training opened with welcome remarks from Etemore Glover, CEO of the Impact Investors Foundation, who highlighted the workshop’s role as the vital link between policy and practice.

“Following the landmark launch of Nigeria’s Gender/GESI Roadmap in 2025, this workshop represents the essential next strategic step in our journey towards a truly inclusive financial ecosystem,” Glover stated.

“It is not enough to have a roadmap; we must now begin to operationalise it through institutional transformation that goes beyond mere policy alignment. This phase is critical because it moves us past advocacy and into the rigorous work of implementation, ensuring that organisations begin to intentionally deploy strategies to bridge the gaps that have historically sidelined women and marginalised groups.”

Goodwill remarks were delivered by CEO of GSG Impact, Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen, alongside Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. N. A. Esuabana, represented by Dr. Abia Udeme Nsikak. Both speakers underscored the pivotal role of private capital in advancing inclusive economic growth and national development priorities.

A central highlight was a technical deep dive into the Gender/GESI Roadmap, presented by a Partner from PwC. The roadmap provides a structured approach to embedding gender-smart principles across the entire investment lifecycle: deal sourcing, by identifying women-led or gender-diverse enterprises; due diligence, through assessing GESI-related risks and opportunities; portfolio management, by strengthening inclusive governance; and exit strategies, which focus on ensuring long-term impact sustainability.

Experts from 2X Global and Moremi Capital delivered sessions on the Foundations of Gender-Smart Investing, contextualising global standards such as the 2X Criteria for the Nigerian investment landscape. These discussions demonstrated how investors can intentionally benefit women-led businesses, women in leadership, and women as value chain participants.

Beyond frameworks, the workshop prioritised hands-on implementation. Using IIF’s GESI Diagnostic Tool, participants assessed their institutions’ readiness and developed concrete action plans to strengthen internal policies, strengthen inclusive governance structures and investment screening processes.

The presentation of Nigeria’s Inclusive Capital Baseline Survey further anchored the conversation in data. The survey provides sex-disaggregated and disability-disaggregated investment insights, establishing a benchmark to track progress and close financing gaps affecting women, youth, and other marginalised groups.

The afternoon sessions focused on institutional integration, led by investment and sustainability professionals from Verod Capital. They shared practical strategies for embedding GESI metrics into governance systems. Additionally, a case study from Alitheia Capital illustrated how gender-lens investing drives both financial performance and measurable social impact.

The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to translate the roadmap into measurable outcomes. As Nigeria seeks to deepen its impact investing market, this training signals a clear shift from high-level advocacy to structured, data-driven execution. Organisations were charged with embedding gender-smart principles into their core operations to unlock Nigeria’s full economic potential, effectively turning the roadmap into the standard for investment in the nation’s future.

“With growing evidence that diverse and inclusive enterprises outperform their peers in risk management, innovation, and long-term value creation, Nigeria’s push to operationalise gender-smart investing reflects both a moral imperative and a significant market opportunity,” concluded Glover.