In the boardrooms of today and the businesses of tomorrow, three letters are reshaping the rules of engagement: ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). What began as a fringe consideration for multinationals is now the heartbeat of responsible, future-proofed organisations across every industry, every geography, and every size of enterprise.
Welcome to this new BusinessDay column, where every other week we will unpack what ESG means, explore how it is being adopted across sectors, and offer practical strategies for integrating ESG into your core business model. Whether you’re a CEO, investor, entrepreneur, civil servant, or startup founder, understanding ESG is no longer optional; it’s essential.
ESG: Beyond Buzzwords
Too often, ESG is dismissed as just another compliance checkbox or a PR tactic for large corporations. But ESG is neither greenwashing nor corporate altruism; it’s a new strategic lens for how business is done. ESG principles help organisations future-proof operations, improve stakeholder trust, and tap into new revenue and investment opportunities.
Globally, ESG-linked assets are projected to reach over $50 trillion by 2025. In Nigeria and across Africa, we are seeing rising interest from regulators, investors, customers, and communities who demand more accountability, transparency, and ethical governance.
In simple terms, ESG is about doing well by doing good. It is the new foundation for sustainable business growth, from how we treat people to how we engage the planet to how we govern ourselves.
Why ESG now?
The business environment is undergoing seismic shifts; climate risks are intensifying, social equity is taking centre stage, and governance scandals are becoming more visible in the age of digital transparency. For many organisations, ESG is the bridge between staying relevant and becoming obsolete.
Nigerian businesses are not exempt from this shift. Increasingly, both local and international investors are applying ESG filters before making funding decisions. Governments and regulators are mandating sustainability disclosures. Consumers are choosing brands whose values align with their own. Employees, especially younger ones, are drawn to purpose-driven companies. ESG is influencing your business whether you embrace it or not.
The earlier we align, the better prepared we are for the inevitable future.
What this column will cover
In this column, we will demystify ESG for Nigerian and African business leaders. Each edition will focus on a topical issue, trend, or case study that helps translate ESG from theory into practice. Some of the questions we’ll explore include:
· How do I measure my organisation’s ESG performance?
· What are ESG risks, and how can I turn them into opportunities?
· How do global standards like GRI, SASB, or the ISSB apply locally?
· What’s the link between ESG and profitability?
· How are Nigerian companies leading, or lagging, in this space?
· What role does digital innovation play in ESG tracking and reporting?
We’ll spotlight practical tools, policy updates, and stories of businesses, large and small, making bold ESG moves. From the conversion of diesel fleets to CNG by industry giants like Dangote to grassroots entrepreneurs driving local impact, we’ll look at ESG from every angle.
This column is not just for big corporations. It is for the growing number of SMEs, family-owned businesses, government parastatals, nonprofits, and even faith-based institutions who want to future-proof their relevance and impact.
Why it matters to you
For too long, ESG conversations have felt abstract or elitist, disconnected from day-to-day business realities. But ESG is now a matter of strategy, not charity. It affects your access to capital, your brand reputation, your ability to attract talent, and your licence to operate.
The future belongs to the responsible. And responsible business is not a soft business; it is an innovative business.
This is your invitation to rethink your business model through the ESG lens, not as an outsider, but as a changemaker. ESG is not just the concern of policymakers or global CEOs. It is your concern. It is your opportunity.
And in the words of Peter Drucker: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Let’s create a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient business future together.
Sarah Esangbedo Ajose-Adeogun is the Founder and Managing Partner at Teasoo Consulting Limited, a foremost ESG consulting firm. She is a former Community Content Manager at Shell Petroleum Development Company and served as the Special Adviser on Strategy, Policy, Projects, and Performance Management to the Government of Edo State. She is also the host of the #SarahSpeaks podcast on YouTube @WinningBigWithSarah, where she shares insights on leadership, strategy, and sustainable growth.
