Shared Value Africa (SVA), in collaboration with Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre and ZER Consulting Africa, proudly hosted the CEO Connect Forum Nigeria and the official launch of Shared Value Nigeria. The event was convened to foster dialogue among CEOs and business leaders on integrating the Creating Shared Value (CSV) approach to sustainability as a fundamental business strategy in Nigeria and beyond.
The forum took place at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, providing a unique opportunity for high-level business executives to engage and discuss leveraging societal challenges as avenues for business innovation and growth through the CSV framework. The event featured keynote addresses and discussions from esteemed local and continental leaders, who shared practical perspectives on embedding shared value into business operations.
Tiekie Barnard, CEO and Founder of Shift Impact Africa and Shared Value Africa, set the tone of the forum, emphasizing that creating shared value can be a game changer for Africa. “Shared Value Africa was started six years ago with the aim of strategically addressing societal challenges through a business management concept developed by Professors Michael Porter and Mark Kramer at Harvard. Shared value is first and foremost about profitability and not CSR or philanthropy. Businesses should serve all stakeholders, not just shareholders, weaving its purpose around the intersection of people, profit, and planet,” she said. Barnard added that the CSV approach can enhance reputation, attract investment, and represents a long-term commitment to addressing societal issues. “It is our dream at Shared Value Africa for every organization on the continent to practise shared value.”
Adeolu Adewumi-Zer, Founder of ZER Consulting Africa and CEO, Shared Value Nigeria, spoke on “Value Creation as a Business Imperative.” She shared her discovery of shared value three years ago, highlighting how it connects profit with purpose. “Shared value offers a bridge to sustainable growth, providing long-term profitability while addressing societal needs. Launching Shared Value Nigeria will foster partnerships, enabling businesses to achieve success while improving the Nigerian society and economy.”
Rashidat Adebisi, Chief Client Officer at AXA Mansard, a major sponsor, addressed the importance of responsibility towards future generations and stakeholders. She mentioned that at AXA Mansard, they have redefined their purpose to focus on inclusion and biodiversity. “One of the biggest challenges we should address is what do we leave for the next generation. How do we ensure that we are responsible for our stakeholders? At AXA Mansard, we did rethink our purpose to ensure that we are doing what matters. Purpose is beyond making money for us; our purpose is hinged on two key pillars, which are inclusion and biodiversity. We have run programmes like the SHE Initiative to ensure that our business accommodates more women, and we are working with other organisations to create more shared value in critical sectors like healthcare.” Programmes such as the SHE Initiative have demonstrated the value of including more women in business, increasing their participation from 15 to 34 percent. AXA Mansard continues to work with organizations to create more shared value in healthcare, defining, mapping, and partnering to ensure their activities create value.
Karen Basiye, Director of Sustainable Business and Social Impact at Safaricom, delivered the first keynote speech themed, “The Business Case for Shared Value.” She indicated that businesses can create shared value by leveraging resources and expertise to tackle societal challenges, resulting in mutual benefits. Examples from Safaricom include the mobile money initiative, M-PESA in Kenya, which revolutionized digital mobile money payments, and installing masts in refugee camps, both of which have driven profits and societal benefits. Safaricom also created a mobile health wallet for specific health savings, reinforcing the importance of responsibility towards people and the planet.
Jessica Chivinge, Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer at Vitality Health International, spoke through her presentation themed, “The Pursuit of Shared Value in the Health Sector.” She highlighted Vitality’s approach to shared value through client, employee, and societal initiatives. She added that engaging employees to innovate and rewarding clients for healthy lifestyles were key strategies that unlocked value across the entire value chain.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where the audience interacted with the speakers and shared reflections, learnings, and implementable actions. The CEO Connect Forum was proudly supported by AXA Mansard, Zenith Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Unilever Nigeria, and Nestlé Nigeria.
Lagos Business School is Africa’s leading management education institution, and the LBS Sustainability Centre is a globally recognised knowledge hub that brings together theory and practice on business and sustainability for the advancement of business performance and development outcomes. For more information about the initiatives and upcoming events by the Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre, please contact sustainabilitycentre@lbs.edu.ng. Together, we can work towards a sustainable future for businesses on the continent. See our programmes at [LBS Sustainability Centre](https://lbssustainabilitycentre.edu.ng/training).
Shared Value Africa is the regional partner of the global Shared Value Initiative. Operated by Shift Impact Africa Group, a Shared Value consultancy, advocacy, and training firm based in Johannesburg, its purpose is to grow the community of African Shared Value leaders. Shared Value Africa has been at the forefront of championing Creating Shared Value (CSV) on the continent via policies and practices that enhance the competitiveness of organisations while simultaneously advancing the economic and social conditions in the communities in which they operate. For more information, visit [Shared Value Africa](https://svai.africa).