Regulators and investors at the FITC Sustainability and ESG Conference 2026 in Lagos called for expanding green finance tools like green bonds and sustainability-linked loans to close Africa's climate finance gap. Speakers from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Securities and Exchange Commission stressed that sustainability disclosures are now essential for attracting global capital, not just a compliance exercise. Key themes included embedding ESG into corporate strategy and national planning, with the Africa Carbon Market Initiative and Green Climate Fund cited as mechanisms to bridge financing gaps. The conference aimed to move beyond dialogue toward practical implementation, focusing on renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, and low-carbon technologies as investment priorities for the continent.
