The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) has announced the launch of the Nigerian Impact Investing Research and Industry Collaborative (NIIRIC) at a grand event held at The Wheatbaker Lagos, Ikoyi, last week.
The groundbreaking initiative aims to catalyse the growth of Nigeria’s impact investing ecosystem by fostering collaboration, driving impactful research, and building capacity within the industry.
The NIIRIC aims to be the leading collaborative platform driving impactful research and industry engagement in Nigeria’s impact investing sector and was established with grant funding from FCDO’s Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund.
“The launch of NIIRIC marks a pivotal moment for impact investing in Nigeria. We believe that by harnessing the power of collaboration and research, we can unlock the immense potential of impact investing to drive sustainable development and create positive change,’’ Etemore Glover, CEO, Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) said.
The NIIRIC’s mission is to coordinate, facilitate, and disseminate high-quality research, industry insights, and capacity-building programmes, that will strengthen the impact investing ecosystem in Nigeria.
Key dignitaries at the event include Alice Omisore-Dada, the Country Technical Lead for Nigeria at RISA Fund; Dr. Chinyere Almona, Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Julius Lamptey, Senior Research and Policy Officer at Impact Investing Ghana; and Etermore Glover, CEO of Impact Investors Foundation.
“The establishment of NIIRIC represents a significant milestone in our efforts to foster innovation and research in Africa’s impact investing sector. By providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing, we are confident that NIIRIC will play a crucial role in unlocking Nigeria’s potential as a hub for sustainable and impactful investments,” Alice Omisore-Dada, Country Lead for Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund added.
The NIIRIC will focus on four key areas to achieve its mission. They are research and data generation, capacity building, policy advocacy and investor network development.
At the event, eight (8) organisations were appointed as members of the Steering Committee of the NIIRIC. These organisations are Lagos Business School (LBS), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), The Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (PEVCA), Ideanest Investments, International Center for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED), ARI Initiative, Ashoka Africa and ACT Foundation.
The potential for impact investing in Nigeria is immense, with opportunities across various sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, and renewable energy. The NIIRIC aims to position Nigeria as a leading impact investing hub in Africa by providing the necessary resources and support to industry stakeholders.
