Lagos: The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) has unveiled a Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) roadmap, a 10-year blueprint, aimed at mobilising $8 billion in inclusive capital by 2035. The roadmap was unveiled on Thursday at the third Gender Impact Investment Summit (GIIS), held at the Civic Centre, Lagos, with the theme: ‘Investing in Equity: Advancing Gender-Led Solutions for Inclusive Development’.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the launch also introduced the Nigeria Inclusive Capital Commitment 2035 campaign to drive actionable plans toward the GESI roadmap’s goals. Ms Etemore Glover, the Chief Executive Officer of IIF, said the roadmap was designed in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria to embed gender and social inclusion in Nigeria’s investment space. The strategy targets the launch of 40 inclusive financial products for women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Ms Glover highlighted that this initiative will mobilise $1.5 billion domestic capital pools and achieve 90 percent integration of GESI principles by investment partners. The roadmap also aims at enacting 20 new policy and regulatory instruments to promote inclusive growth. Glover stated, ‘This GESI Roadmap is not just a plan, it is a blueprint for a significant shift in Nigeria’s economy. The scale of the targets underscores our commitment to a future where no one is left behind.’
Ibukun Awosika, Chairperson of GSG Nigeria Partner, emphasized the campaign’s significance, stating, ‘The GESI roadmap moves us beyond aspiration to accountability, demanding that stakeholders not only mobilise inclusive capital at scale but also embed GESI principles into every investment decision and policy.’ She added that this would enable the closing of gaps and unlocking Nigeria’s full economic potential, ensuring that the nation’s growth is truly equitable and transformative.
Similarly, Jessica Espinoza, CEO of 2X Global, a global industry body for gender lens investing, in her keynote address, stressed the need for intentional action. ‘Progress is strategic, not accidental, which is why the GESI roadmap is a critical blueprint for Nigeria’s future. It’s a vital framework for dismantling financial barriers, empowering women, youth, and people with disabilities, and unlocking the nation’s full economic potential,’ she noted.
The summit featured goodwill remarks from renowned speakers, panel discussions, fireside chats, and presentations from notable figures in the financial, business, and policy sectors. Stakeholders, by signing the Nigeria Inclusive Capital Commitment 2035, pledged to take key actions such as mobilising inclusive capital at scale, strengthening institutional capacity, and delivering measurable outcomes that empower women, youth, and PwDs across Nigeria.
In a move to facilitate real-world investments, the summit also featured a dedicated, in-person deal room. This platform provided a direct pipeline for investment-ready, women-led, and women-owned businesses to connect with capital providers, including impact investors, fund managers, and development finance institutions. The roadmap was developed with support from several institutions and organisations, including PwC Nigeria, GIZ, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Ministry of Youth Development, and the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund funded by UK International Development.