Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc in partnership with the Lagos Business School (LBS) Sustainability
Centre, will convene the 2025 Sustainable Finance Summit 2.0 themed “Financing Resilience: Digital
Innovation and AI for Climate-Smart Communities,” on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at the Civic
Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The summit will bring together an ecosystem of players in the
sustainable finance sector spanning the financial services, development, sustainability and technology
sectors. Registration for the summit is open for in-person participation –
https://events.lbs.edu.ng/SUSTAINABLEFINANCESUMMIT2025
Globally, traditional financing models are undergoing recalibration to catalyse sustainable
development, driven by digitisation and Artificial Intelligence. Africa is not left out, and the financial
services sector is uniquely positioned to play a pivotal role. The event will serve as a platform to
explore transformative approaches to sustainable financing powered by digitisation and artificial
intelligence. With fintech adoption in Nigeria alone growing by over 200% in the last five years,
digital innovation and AI present powerful tools to bridge financing gaps, scale sustainable solutions,
and create inclusive financial systems for underserved markets.
Mrs. Tosin Leye-Odeyemi, Head, Sustainability, Risk and Capital Management at Stanbic IBTC
Holdings Plc, conveys Stanbic’s commitment to driving sustainable innovation in finance: “At
Stanbic IBTC, we are constantly thinking of what we can do differently to achieve the systemic
changes required in finance riding on the back of digitisation and Artificial Intelligence which is
changing the way the financial services industry analyses, understands and shapes finance, business
and investments. The summit affords ecosystem players the opportunity to share insights, showcase
solutions, and navigate change together for the good of the continent as a whole.”
She added, “At Stanbic IBTC, we are thinking about the future and recognise that the future of
finance must serve both people and the planet. We are proud to partner with the Lagos Business
School Sustainability Centre to push this agenda forward for Nigeria and Africa.”
The urgency could not be greater. Africa currently loses an estimated 7–15 billion USD annually to
climate change impacts, a figure projected to rise to 50 billion USD by 2040 without decisive action.
At the same time, the continent faces a 1.3 trillion USD sustainable financing gap by 2030 according
to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
The Sustainable Finance Summit 2.0 is anchored on four strategic objectives: advancing Nigeria and
Africa’s role in the global sustainable finance architecture through homegrown innovations;
strengthening policy frameworks and identifying regulatory enablers for digital sustainable finance;
mobilising partnerships across the public and private sectors to scale impact; and showcasing
cutting-edge AI and digitisation applications that drive and future-proof ESG-aligned investments
across the continent.
Oreva Atanya, Director, LBS Sustainability Centre said, “ The summit’s objectives are aligned with
the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap, the
African Union Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, and
Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, all geared towards harnessing the potential of critical sectors on the
continent by connecting the dots with various developmental frameworks and aspirations across
national, regional, and global levels, positioning Nigeria and Africa as a proactive contributor to the
global sustainable finance agenda.”
The one-day summit will feature High-level remarks, a keynote address, insight presentations, high-
level panel discussions, and a “blue carpet” networking session, offering participants the opportunity
to connect, engage, and forge partnerships that will redefine the future of finance on the continent.
Registration for the summit is open for in-person participation –
https://events.lbs.edu.ng/SUSTAINABLEFINANCESUMMIT2025
For enquiries, contact: Ms. Opeyemi Ogunkoya (opeyemi.ogunkoya@stanbicibtc.com); Mr. Abam
Inyang (ainyang@lbs.edu.ng | +234 805 622 1994); or Ms. Osanua Nwagbara
(onwagbara@lbs.edu.ng | +234 816 627 4211)
About the Conveners
Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc is a member of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest banking
group by assets, committed to driving sustainable growth and financial inclusion across the
continent. Read more about Stanbic IBTC Holdings here:
https://www.stanbicibtc.com/nigeriaholdings/Stanbic-IBTC-Holdings
Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre is a leading knowledge hub in Africa, advancing
sustainable business practices through academic programmes, research, capacity building, and multi-
stakeholder engagement. The Centre is one of the Centres at the prestigious Lagos Business School,
Pan Atlantic University. Read more about the Centre here: https://sustainabilitycentre.lbs.edu.ng/
