By Michael Oche
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) on Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated Nigeria’s first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Implementation Guide for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to strengthen business sustainability.
Speaking at the launch, Chairman of the NECA ESG Advisory Board, Mr. Femi Jaiyeola, described the guide as a landmark initiative, saying it would equip Nigerian small businesses with practical tools to build resilience, enhance productivity, access finance and participate more competitively in regional and global value chains.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the guide which was done in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation(ILO), is designed to help MSMEs integrate environmental, social and governance principles into their operations at a time when investors, financial institutions and international markets are increasingly demanding sustainable business practices.
Jaiyeola said MSMEs remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and required practical tools to compete in an increasingly sustainability-driven global business environment.
He explained that ESG had evolved beyond a regulatory compliance requirement to become a key business strategy for attracting investment, improving competitiveness, strengthening resilience and enhancing long-term enterprise value.
“ESG has gone beyond a tick-box exercise to satisfy regulatory requirements. It now provides enormous opportunities for MSMEs and for Nigeria as a country,” he said.
According to him, the implementation guide comes at a critical period when regulators, financial institutions and global markets increasingly demand sustainable business practices from enterprises of every size.
“The message for MSMEs is very clear. By 2030, ESG reporting is expected to become mandatory in Nigeria. Therefore, the time to prepare is now,” he said.
Jaiyeola said the guide provided a practical, step-by-step roadmap to enable MSMEs commence their ESG journey progressively while generating measurable business value and strengthening long-term organisational resilience.
He said beyond regulatory compliance, ESG adoption would improve access to finance, enhance business reputation, increase market opportunities and position Nigerian enterprises for greater participation in international value chains.
“This guide is more than a document. It is a practical tool that will help Nigerian MSMEs compete, grow and thrive in a sustainability-driven economy,” he said.
Jaiyeola commended the ILO) consultants and members of the NECA ESG Advisory Board for their technical support, expertise and commitment towards producing the implementation guide.
He recalled that NECA, with ILO support, conducted a state-of-the-art assessment on ESG in Nigeria, which was launched on Dec. 4, 2025, to strengthen sustainability practices.
According to him, findings from the assessment underscored the need to integrate MSMEs into Nigeria’s ESG framework because of their strategic role in national economic development and job creation.
“What we are launching today is, to the best of our knowledge, the first ESG Implementation Guide specifically designed for MSMEs in Nigeria and across Africa,” he said.
Jaiyeola expressed optimism that the guide would help MSMEs understand ESG principles, maximise sustainability opportunities and improve their competitiveness in domestic and international markets.
He disclosed that six NECA officials were currently undergoing specialised ESG training for SMEs at the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin, Italy.
According to him, the officials will, upon completion, train MSMEs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to deepen ESG awareness, implementation and compliance among small businesses nationwide.
He said the initiative reflected NECA’s commitment to building the capacity of Nigerian businesses to embrace sustainability and remain competitive in the evolving global business environment.
