Non-profit private and public sector professionals have been advised to adopt Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies to advance sustainable development and drive impact in Africa.

The advice was given by sustainability experts at the seventh Breakfast Dialogue, organised by Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, a grant-making organisation in Lagos, at the weekend.

The yearly programme, which gathers policymakers and industry experts, explored the topic: ‘Advancing Sustainable Development in Africa: The role of Environmental, Social and Governance Strategies in Creating Impact’.

In her keynote address, Cluster Director, Mondelez International, West Africa, Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye, decried the huge sustainability gap within African businesses due to absence of ESG policies, underlining the need to adopt fundamental goals.

She said: “Companies are increasingly adopting ESG, not just as a strategy, but as a fundamental principle.

Environmental, social and governance considerations are integral to achieving lasting success, and making a positive impact. African organisations need to ensure that they are doing the right things, as it concerns ESG strategies.”

In her speech, CEO of Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, Osayi Alile, noted: “Every year, we are graced with diverse groups of experts from various sectors and socio-economic backgrounds, and this year is no different. Our goal at this year’s Breakfast Dialogue is to help remove boundaries, knowledge limitations and gaps that may be hindering African organisations from significantly contributing to the achievement of sustainable development through effective implementation of ESG practices, thereby reducing the challenges faced in Africa such as poor health systems, climate change, poverty, food security, as well as youth and entrepreneurship development.”