Business
CEOs Brainstorm on Creating Shared Value for Sustainable Business Practice
Shared Value Africa (SVA), in collaboration with Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre and ZER Consulting Africa, proudly hosted the CEO Connect Forum Nigeria and the official launch of Shared Value Nigeria.
The event was convened to foster dialogue among CEOs and business leaders on integrating the Creating Shared Value (CSV) approach to sustainability as a fundamental business strategy in Nigeria and beyond.
The forum was held in person at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, providing a unique opportunity for high-level business executives to engage and discuss leveraging societal challenges as avenues for business innovation and growth through the CSV framework. The event featured keynote addresses and discussions from esteemed local and continental leaders, who shared practical perspectives on embedding shared value into business operations.
Tiekie Barnard, CEO and Founder of Shift Impact Africa and Shared Value Africa set the tone of the forum. She emphasised that creating shared value can be a game changer for Africa. “Shared Value Africa was started six years ago with the aim of strategically addressing societal challenges through a business management concept developed by Professors Michael Porter and Mark Kramer at Harvard. Shared value is first and foremost about profitability and not CSR or philanthropy. Businesses should serve all stakeholders, not just shareholders, weaving its purpose around the intersection of people, profit, and planet,” she said. She added that, “The CSV approach can enhance reputation, attract investment, and is a long-term commitment to addressing societal issues. It is our dream at Shared Value Africa for every organisation on the continent to practise shared value.”
Adeolu Adewumi-Zer, Founder of ZER Consulting Africa and CEO, Shared Value Nigeria, spoke on ‘Value Creation as a Business Imperative.’ She shared her discovery of shared value three years ago, pointing how it connects profit with purpose. “Shared value offers a bridge to sustainable growth, providing long-term profitability while addressing societal needs. Launching Shared Value Nigeria will foster partnerships, enabling businesses to achieve success while improving the Nigerian society and economy.”
Rashidat Adebisi, Chief Client Officer at AXA Mansard, who were major sponsors, addressed the importance of responsibility towards future generations and stakeholders. She mentioned that at AXA Mansard, they have redefined their purpose to focus on inclusion and biodiversity. “One of the biggest challenges we should address is what do we leave for the next generation. How do we ensure that we are responsible for our stakeholders? At Axa Mansard we did rethink our purpose to ensure that we are doing what matters. Purpose is beyond making money for us, our purpose is hinged on two key pillars which are inclusion and biodiversity. We have run programmes with women like the SHE Initiative to ensure that our business accommodates more women and we are working with other organisations to create more shared value in critical sectors like healthcare,” she said. Programmes such as the SHE Initiative have demonstrated the value of including more women in business, increasing their participation from 15 to 34 percent. AXA Mansard continues to work with organisations to create more shared value in healthcare, defining, mapping, and partnering to ensure their activities create value.
Karen Basiye, Director of Sustainable Business and Social Impact at Safaricom delivered the first keynote speech themed, ‘The Business Case for Shared Value.’ She indicated that businesses can create shared value by leveraging resources and expertise to tackle societal challenges, resulting in mutual benefits. Examples from Safaricom include the mobile money initiative, M-PESA in Kenya which revolutionised digital mobile money payments and installing masts in refugee camps, both of which have driven profits and societal benefits. Safaricom also created a mobile health wallet for specific health savings, reinforcing the importance of responsibility towards people and the planet.
Jessica Chivinge, Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer at Vitality Health International, spoke through her presentation themed, ‘The Pursuit of Shared Value in the Health Sector.’ She highlighted Vitality’s approach to shared value through client, employee, and societal initiatives. She added that engaging employees to innovate and rewarding clients for healthy lifestyles were key strategies that unlocked value across the entire value chain.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where the audience interacted with the speakers and shared reflections, learnings and implementable actions. The CEO Connect Forum was proudly supported by AXA Mansard, Zenith Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Unilever Nigeria and Nestlé Nigeria.
Lagos Business School is Africa’s leading management education institution and the LBS Sustainability Centre is a globally recognised knowledge hub that brings together the theory and practice on business and sustainability for the advancement of business performance and development outcomes. For more information about the initiatives and upcoming events by the Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre, please contact sustainabilitycentre@lbs.edu.ng. Together we can work towards a sustainable future for businesses on the continent. See our programmes at https://lbssustainabilitycentre.edu.ng/training
Shared Value Africa is the regional partner of the global Shared Value Initiative. Operated by Shift Impact Africa Group, a Shared Value consultancy, advocacy and training firm based in Johannesburg, its purpose is to grow the community of African Shared Value leaders. Shared Value Africa has been at the forefront of championing Creating Shared Value (CSV) on the continent via policies and practises that enhance the competitiveness of organisations while simultaneously advancing the economic and social conditions in the communities in which they operate. For more information, visit svai.africa.
Access Bank Plc has responded to the reports making the rounds on social media concerning a former contact agent, who was alleged to have violated the privacy of some women in the organisation.
In a statement the management made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the bank said the matter has been handed over to the appropriate authorities for investigation while cautioning the general public to rely on updates communicated through their channels only.
The statement reads in full:
Our attention has been drawn to reports circulating on social media regarding an alleged offence involving a former Contact Centre Agent.
The matter has been handed over to the appropriate authorities, who are conducting an investigation.
We are fully cooperating with them in this process.
At Access Bank, we uphold a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and any form of privacy violation.
We are also actively engaging with the affected employees to provide all necessary support.
The safety, dignity, and well-being of our employees and customers remain our highest priority.
We appreciate the concern and support of the public and our stakeholders.
For accurate information, we encourage everyone to rely only on updates communicated through our official channels.
MANAGEMENT
Moruf Oseni, managing director/CEO, Wema Bank, says the lender is committed to continued service and value delivery to Nigerians beyond its 80th anniversary.
Wema Bank, one of Nigeria’s oldest indigenous institutions, is set to mark 80th anniversary on May 2, 2025.
Founded on May 2nd, 1945, as Agbonmagbe Bank Limited by Late Matthew Adekoya Okupe, and two others, the bank was established to bridge the gap in access to financial services for indigenous Nigerians during the colonial era.
Over the years, Wema Bank has built a legacy of impact, empowering Nigerians with quality financial services tailored to their needs and supporting the Fintech industry to innovate to remain valuable to customers and stakeholders.
Oseni, speaking on the journey of the bank so far, expressed commitment to continued delivery of optimum value to stakeholders beyond the anniversary.
According to him, Wema Bank’s founding principle of empowerment and its creed to “be with you all the way” speak to resilience, timelessness, and perpetuity.
“At Wema Bank, we have our creed, which is to be with you all the way. Anything that has the creed to be with you all the way simply means it is something that is built to last. Wema Bank rose against all odds in colonial Nigeria to cater to indigenous Nigerians and succeeded.
“Today, we are not just Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank but also Nigeria’s leading innovative bank, a testament to how committed we are to reinventing and adapting to provide value. On this, we will never relent,” Oseni noted.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit price in Abuja.
Some motorists in Abuja confirmed the new fuel price adjustment at some NNPC retail outlets.
Reports quoted Abdullahi Hashim, a resident of Kubwa, Abuja, to have said: “I observed the drop in the fuel price to N935 per litre on Saturday morning. It is a welcome development.”
“I think I first saw this new price adjustment in Town, Wuse Zone 4 area, on Friday. NNPC filling station at Kubwa Expressway is just reflecting it,” Bukola Adewole also said.
The development comes after Dangote Refinery announced in its ex-depot petrol price to N835 per litre from N865.
The 650,000 barrels per day refinery had announced that its partners, such as MRS and AP filling stations, are expected to sell petrol between N890 and N920 per litre, depending on the location.
Meanwhile, MRS filling stations in Abuja have not been dispensing petrol since Wednesday, April 16, 2025, when Dangote Refinery announced a slash in ex-depot petrol price.
