Foundation advances gender, inclusive capital agenda
The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) has taken a significant step towards implementing its Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) roadmap with the convening of a high-level Nigeria Gender-Smart and Inclusive
The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) has taken a significant step towards implementing its Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) roadmap with the convening of a high-level Nigeria Gender-Smart and Inclusive Capital workshop in Lagos.
The workshop, held at Four Points by Sheraton Lagos, brought together investors, policymakers, development partners and private sector leaders as part of efforts to move beyond policy commitments towards concrete action. It forms a key component of the implementation strategy that followed the launch of Nigeria’s Gender/GESI Roadmap at the 2025 Gender Impact Investment Summit.
Designed to transition the impact investing ecosystem from high-level advocacy to practical execution, the session equipped institutions with tools, standards and data required to integrate gender equality and social inclusion considerations into capital allocation decisions.
Chief Executive Officer, IIF, Etemore Glover, described the workshop as a critical bridge between policy formulation and institutional 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. It is not enough to have a roadmap; we must now begin to operationalise it through institutional transformation that goes beyond mere policy alignment,” Glover said.
She added that the next phase of engagement would require organisations to move from advocacy to implementation by intentionally deploying strategies to close longstanding financing gaps affecting women and marginalised groups.
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Goodwill remarks were delivered by Chief Executive Officer of GSG Impact, Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen, alongside the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. N. A. Esuabana, represented by Dr. Abia Udeme Nsikak. Both speakers highlighted the growing importance of private capital in advancing inclusive economic growth and aligning investment strategies with national development priorities.
A technical session led by advisory firm PwC provided participants with an in-depth review of the Gender/GESI Roadmap. The framework outlines how gender-smart principles can be embedded across the investment lifecycle, from deal sourcing and due diligence to portfolio management and exit strategies.
Further sessions by 2X Global and Moremi Capital focused on the foundations of gender-smart investing, with discussions centred on adapting global standards such as the 2X Criteria to the Nigerian investment landscape. The deliberations demonstrated how investors can support women-led enterprises, improve leadership diversity and expand opportunities for women across value chains.
Participants also engaged with IIF’s GESI Diagnostic Tool to assess institutional readiness and develop action plans aimed at strengthening governance structures and inclusive investment screening processes.
Data from Nigeria’s Inclusive Capital Baseline Survey further anchored the discussions, offering sex- and disability-disaggregated investment insights to help track progress in closing financing gaps affecting women, youth and other marginalised groups.
Investment and sustainability professionals from Verod Capital led afternoon sessions on integrating GESI metrics into governance systems, while a case study presented by Alitheia Capital illustrated how gender-lens investing can deliver both financial returns and measurable social impact.
The workshop concluded with renewed commitments from stakeholders to translate the roadmap into measurable outcomes as Nigeria deepens its impact investing market.
“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,” Glover added.
