WorldStage– Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has inaugurated Nigeria’s first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Implementation Guide for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to strengthen business sustainability.
The guide was inaugurated on Tuesday during the 2026 Nigeria Employers’ Summit in Abuja in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Chairman of the NECA ESG Advisory Board, Mr Femi Jaiyeola, described the guide as a milestone for strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of Nigerian MSMEs.
He said MSMEs remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and required practical tools to compete in an increasingly sustainability-driven global business environment.
Jaiyeola said ESG had evolved beyond regulatory compliance into a strategic business tool for attracting investment, improving competitiveness and enhancing long-term enterprise value.
He said ESG also presented significant opportunities for MSMEs and Nigeria’s economy beyond meeting regulatory obligations.
According to him, the guide comes as regulators, financial institutions and global markets increasingly demand sustainable business practices from enterprises of all sizes.
Jaiyeola said ESG reporting was expected to become mandatory in Nigeria by 2030, urging MSMEs to begin preparations immediately.
He said the guide provided a practical roadmap to help MSMEs adopt ESG principles progressively while delivering measurable business value and organisational resilience.
According to him, ESG adoption will improve access to finance, strengthen business reputation and expand opportunities in international value chains.
He described the guide as a practical tool that would enable Nigerian MSMEs to compete, grow and thrive in a sustainability-driven economy.
Jaiyeola commended ILO consultants and members of the NECA ESG Advisory Board for supporting the development of the implementation guide.
He recalled that NECA, with ILO support, launched an ESG assessment on Dec. 4, 2025, to strengthen sustainability practices across Nigerian businesses.
According to him, the assessment highlighted the need to integrate MSMEs into Nigeria’s ESG framework because of their contributions to economic growth and employment.
Jaiyeola said the implementation guide was the first designed specifically for MSMEs in Nigeria and, to NECA’s knowledge, across Africa.
He expressed confidence that the guide would help MSMEs understand ESG principles and improve competitiveness in local and international markets.
Jaiyeola disclosed that six NECA officials were undergoing specialised ESG training for SMEs at the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, Italy.
He said the officials would train MSMEs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones after completing the programme.According to him, the initiative demonstrates NECA’s commitment to building business capacity for sustainability and global competitiveness.
