NSE, GRI Unveil Sustainability Disclosure Rules, Host Sustainability Workshop

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The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in partnership with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), supported by UK aid, will on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, host a half-day workshop on sustainability reporting.
Expected at the workshop where the NSE Sustainability Disclosure Guidelines would be unveiled, according to a joint statement by the organizer, are C-level executives, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability experts, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders.
There will also be an interactive session for participants to share insights on the imperative of good sustainable practices and reporting, while seeking to address the implementation of sustainability reporting. Others include key metrics in the guidance, the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards, reporting process and enhancement of corporate transparency and ultimately performance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
Speakers at the event include Bola Adeeko, Head, Shared Service Division, NSE; Bekeme Masade-Olowola, GRI Board Member and Executive Director, CSR in Action; Olumide Orojimi, Head, Corporate Communication, NSE; Godstime Iwenekhai, Head, Listing Regulation Department, NSE.
The panel discussion will feature Temitope Oguntokun, Country Lead, Sustainability and Stakeholder Management, International Breweries Plc; Ken Egbas, Founder/CEO at TruContact CSR Nigeria; Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head, Sustainability, Access Bank Plc on sustainability and Emilia Asim-Ita, Practice Director, AML.
On the imperative for the workshop, the statement quoted Orojimi as assuring that “a wide range of investors and other stakeholders are increasingly demanding more disclosure of information and data from issuers on how they are addressing sustainability issues, including ESG factors and other non-financial risks and opportunities.
“As a sustainable Exchange, we are committed to helping organizations within our ecosystem implement reporting structure in line with global practices and their business peculiarities. This event will spotlight corporate social responsibilities beyond just practices and reveal how companies can create value through sustainability and reporting,” he added.
GRI Head of Capital Markets Engagement, Eszter Vitorino, added, “Ensuring the sustainability of development in Nigeria can only be achieved through the proactive contribution of all members in the investment chain. We therefore give a warm congratulation to the NSE for walking the talk and driving corporate sustainability disclosure, which is the pivotal building block of responsible investment decisions”.
Recall that The NSE recently secured approval of its Sustainability Disclosure Guidelines, which sets out recommendations for good practice in 13 thematic areas under four core principles in ESG reporting from Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).
With the implementation of Guidelines, investors can look forward to a consistent approach to ESG reporting from Issuers listed on The NSE, the statement added.