NNPC Foundation Wins Africa’s Most Responsible Organisation Award at SERAS 2025
The NNPC Foundation Ltd./Gte has been crowned Africa’s Most Responsible Organisation at the 2025 SERAS Sustainability Awards—Africa’s largest and longest-running sustainability recognition platform.
The win, announced at a ceremony in Lagos themed “Sustainability 2.0: Impact, Innovation & Transparency,” marks a landmark moment not only for the Foundation but also for Nigeria’s corporate sustainability landscape.
The Foundation secured five major awards, underscoring its expanding influence, its growing leadership in sustainability practice, and its role in redefining corporate social investment across the continent.
The honours include:
- Africa’s Most Responsible Organisation (Grand Prize)
- Best in Decent Work
- Best in Stakeholder Engagement
- Best in Poverty Reduction
- Africa Sustainability Professional of the Year
Driving High-Impact Interventions Across Nigeria
Managing Director Emmanuella Arukwe, while receiving the awards, stated that the accolades validate the organisation’s strategic, data-driven development programmes and NNPC Limited’s commitment to national transformation.
“This win is for NNPC Limited. This win is for impact. This win is for Africa,”
she said, stressing that the Foundation is delivering measurable change for underserved communities.
Across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, the Foundation has executed a robust portfolio of interventions covering:
1. Healthcare Access & Medical Relief
- 6,000+ cataract surgeries restoring sight for vulnerable citizens nationwide.
- Renovation of 100-bed wards at National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi.
- Expanded nationwide cancer screening with new diagnostic MRI support.
- 3,441 Nigerians screened for breast, cervical and prostate cancers in 2024.
2. Education, Youth Empowerment & Workforce Readiness
- 40,000+ STEM books distributed to public schools across Nigeria.
- 1,075,981 NYSC members trained in financial literacy—one of the largest youth capacity-building efforts in Africa.
- 1 million+ corps members empowered, including 531 given direct start-up support.
3. Humanitarian Relief Initiatives
- 30 truckloads of food, water and medical supplies delivered to flood-affected communities in Borno State.
4. Agriculture & Climate-Smart Development
- 15,085 farmers trained in climate-smart agriculture and market-driven production.
- Verified seedlings supplied and monitored to guarantee long-term sustainability.
5. Environment & Clean Energy Solutions
- Statewide tree-planting drives, including major anti-desertification efforts in Katsina.
- Support for climate-resilience clubs and environmental advocacy across Nigeria.
- Donation of 45 CNG buses to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner transport.
Arukwe noted that every project implemented by the Foundation undergoes sustainability evaluation, monitoring, and measurable impact assessment, ensuring each intervention delivers long-term value.
SERAS: Africa’s Premier Sustainability Benchmark
SERAS Founder Ken Egbas praised the NNPC Foundation for its transformational leadership, noting that sustainability is now a core determinant of Africa’s global competitiveness.
He said the Awards—now in their 19th year—received 325 entries across 31 African countries, making it the world’s second-oldest sustainability award after the Reuters Business Award.
Egbas emphasised that sustainability is no longer optional:
“Africa needs more. Africa deserves more. The future demands more.”
BRANDECONOMY INSIGHT: Why This Win Matters for Nigeria
The NNPC Foundation’s rising profile reflects Nigeria’s evolving commitment to ESG principles, social impact governance, and energy transition.
Three strategic signals stand out:
1. Nigeria’s energy sector is embracing global sustainability standards
With NNPC Limited repositioned as a commercial entity, the Foundation acts as a social-impact engine powering inclusive development.
2. Large-scale social investment is now data-driven
Quantifiable outcomes—millions trained, thousands treated—reflect a shift from charity to structured, measurable nation-building.
3. ESG will shape national competitiveness
As global capital increasingly prioritises sustainability, organisations that integrate ESG into their DNA are best positioned for cross-border investor confidence, green finance, and long-term growth.
The NNPC Foundation’s recognition as Most Responsible Organisation among other awards cements Nigeria’s place in Africa’s sustainability renaissance—and sets a template for corporate institutions nationwide.
