Amidst the significant environmental challenges, climate change, and the urgent need for sustainability in our world, the upcoming 2023 Sustainability Table Discourse Series (STS) is set to unite influential thought leaders, policymakers, and business figures.
This assembly will focus on addressing critical policy matters, such as decarbonization strategies, securing financial support for climate action, and fostering ecosystems to combat climate change, environmental issues, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-related concerns.
Now entering its seventh year, the 2023 Sustainability Table Discourse is dedicated to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accelerating the shift towards a circular economy.
This year, the discussions will revolve around the vital necessity to mobilize financial resources for the attainment of the SDGs.
A Confluence of Influential Voices
Scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, this event will feature distinguished speakers.
Among them are Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kwara First Lady Olufolake Abdul Razaq, Isiaq Salako, the Minister of State for Environment and Ecological Management, Akintunde Oyebode, the Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development of Ekiti State, and various key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
Notable figures like Mohamad Darwish, CEO of IHS (Nigeria) Limited, and Olumide Lala, CEO of the Climate Finance and Investment Accelerator funded by the UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), along with other stakeholders, will also share their insights.
A Vision for Prosperity
The central theme of this year’s discourse is “Sustainability to Prosperity: Mobilizing Finance for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Kayode Olaniyan, the convener of the Sustainability Table and Principal Consultant at Avantgarde, emphasizes that this event aims to go beyond mere rhetoric.
Its goal is to attract capital and impact investments into sustainable projects, with a focus on integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into funding strategies for maximum returns.
The Imperative of Investment
Nigeria is faced with an annual funding gap of $10 billion to meet the SDGs, as estimated by the United Nations.
The SDGs represent a global call to action, aiming to eradicate poverty and inequality, safeguard the planet, and ensure the well-being, justice, and prosperity of all.
Olaniyan stresses the urgency of mobilizing finance to achieve these goals while highlighting Nigeria’s potential for socio-economic prosperity when aligned with these objectives.
Discussing his upcoming book, “Not a Just Tick in the Box,” which is one of the activities at the STS 2023, Olaniyan conveys that the book offers a profound journey into sustainable business practices.
This transformative work challenges individuals, businesses, and stakeholders to move beyond superficial corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and intentionally integrate sustainability into their core strategies.
Through engaging narratives and illustrative examples, Olaniyan illustrates that sustainability is not a mere checkbox exercise but a profound reorientation towards economic prosperity while upholding environmental and social responsibility.
This book bridges the gap between profit and the planet, urging readers to embrace a transformative journey that harmonizes business success with a better, more responsible, and environmentally conscious future.
Sponsors and Partners
STS 2023 is sponsored by IHS (Nigeria) Limited, a subsidiary of IHS Towers, the fifth-largest independent multinational TowerCo globally. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IHS) in October 2021, the company’s sustainability strategy aligns with the UN Global Compact and is structured around four pillars: Ethics and governance, Environment and climate change, Education and economic growth, and People and communities.
IHS has committed over $100 million to its Project Green initiative, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 50% across its network of 16,000 sites in Nigeria by 2030. Other sponsors of the Sustainability Table Discourse 2023 include the Ekiti State Government, Clarence Gate Investment Limited, and ACIOE (an advisory services firm), among other partners.
The Sustainability Table is convened by Avantgarde Innovation and Technology Services Limited, an environmental and sustainability one-stop shop.
To register for the event, please follow this link.
For further information, you can visit their website.
