The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), Nigeria’s leading platform for unlocking impact capital, on Thursday, October 2, unveiled the groundbreaking Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Roadmap 2025-2035.
This decade-of-action blueprint for gender equity and social inclusion in Nigeria was launched at the third Gender Impact Investment Summit (GIIS), themed “Investing in Equity: Advancing Gender-Led Solutions for Inclusive Development.”
Held at the Civic Centre in Lagos, the launch also introduced the Nigeria Inclusive Capital Commitment 2035 campaign to drive actionable plans towards the GESI roadmap’s ambitious goals.
In collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, the IIF developed a 10-year strategic roadmap from 2025 to 2035 to embed inclusive investment practices within Nigeria’s economy.
The GESI Roadmap presents a clear, actionable plan with targets such as mobilising $8.0 billion in cumulative gender-inclusive capital, the launch of 40 inclusive financial products for women, youth, and PwDs, 90 percent integration of Gender Equity and Social Inclusion principles by General Partners, mobilisation of $1.5 billion domestic capital pools, and the enactment of 20 new policy and regulatory instruments, among others.
The Nigeria Inclusive Capital Commitment 2035 campaign was introduced to inform, shape, and inspire strong capital mobilisation commitments and action for women, youth, and People with Disabilities (PwDs).
It aims to galvanise all stakeholders—including governments, providers and absorbers of capital, market builders, enablers, and financial intermediaries—towards achieving the set targets.
“This GESI Roadmap is not just a plan; it’s a blueprint for a significant shift in Nigeria’s economy,” stated Etemore Glover, CEO of the Impact Investors Foundation.
“The scale of the targets underscores our profound commitment to a future where no one is left behind. This incredibly exciting moment sets a powerful, decade-long course to democratize capital and transform our investment landscape for women, youth, and People with Disabilities (PwDs).”
By signing the Nigeria Inclusive Capital Commitment 2035, stakeholders pledge to take several key actions: mobilize inclusive capital at scale to close gender and inclusion financing gaps; introduce GESI principles into investment decisions, policies, and financial products; strengthen institutional capacity, pipeline development, and policy coherence; and deliver measurable outcomes that empower women, youth, and PwDs across Nigeria.
Ibukun Awosika, the Chairman, GSG Nigeria Partner and Vice Chair, GSG Impact, emphasised the campaign’s significance: “The GESI roadmap moves us beyond aspiration to accountability, demanding that stakeholders not only mobilize inclusive capital at scale but also embed GESI principles into every investment decision and policy, thereby enabling the gaps to be closed, unlocking Nigeria’s full economic potential, and ensuring our growth is truly equitable and transformative.”
Jessica Espinoza, CEO of 2X Global, a global industry body for gender lens investing, delivered a powerful keynote address, stressing the need for intentional action: “Progress is strategic, not accidental, which is why the GESI roadmap is a critical blueprint for Nigeria’s future. It’s a vital framework for intentionally dismantling financial barriers, empowering women, youth, and people with disabilities, and unlocking the nation’s full economic potential.”
The summit featured goodwill remarks from renowned speakers, panel discussions, fireside chats, and presentations from notable figures in the financial, business, and policy sectors.
In a direct move to facilitate real-world investments, the summit also featured a dedicated, in-person deal room. This unique platform provided a direct pipeline for investment-ready, women-led, and women-owned businesses to connect with capital providers, including impact investors, fund managers, and development finance institutions.
This roadmap was developed with vital support of several distinguished institutions and organisations, including PwC Nigeria, GIZ, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Ministry of Youth Development, and the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund funded by UK International Development.
This third Gender Impact Investment Summit, with the launch of the GESI Roadmap and the Nigeria Inclusive Capital Commitment 2035 Campaign, reaffirms the Impact Investors Foundation’s dedication to establishing actionable interventions that build a gender-inclusive economy, driving prosperity and social impact for profit in Nigeria.
