General News
Sustainability is Defining Feature of Africa’s Growth says Du Randt
African companies now recognise the importance of sustainability as a strategic imperative, although many still battle with implementing a comprehensive solution.
This is the view of Antoinette Du Randt, regional director, DuPont Sustainable Solutions, the operations management consulting firm of the science company.
Du Randt said “after grappling with sustainability for many years, starting with how to define sustainability, there is now raised awareness about the need to continually think about keeping a business sustainable for the long term”.
Du Randt ranked sustainability as a key challenge for corporations in the 21st century and she equated it to the modern assessment of business performance.
“A key element of sustainability is the creation of social value,” said Du Randt, who pointed out that companies are under pressure to not only deliver profits for shareholders, particularly evident in mining companies, but also to deliver highervalue to government through increased taxes and royalties, as well as communities where they operate, who are looking for employment opportunities and improved facilities.
Sustainability can also become the defining feature of Africa’s growth in the decades ahead, helping the continent overcome the “growth at all costs” trap that has afflicted other countries in the past, whose economic growth has sometimes been accompanied by high social and environmental costs.
Africa has changed for the better, moving from economic stagnation to being home to seven of the ten fastest growing economies, according to The Economist. This growth has helped build a burgeoning middle class, which has spurred demand for goods and services.
But for Africa to truly realise its potential it will need to diversify its economy, encourage movement to high value manufacturing and facilitate beneficiation of its vast minerals.
Putting in place robust sustainable development strategies will help the continent achieve inclusive growth without damaging the environment or harming the long term use of fresh water resources and agricultural output.
Du Randt pointed out that DuPont sees sustainability as part of the evolution of the business model and is a goal that companies have to pursue in collaboration with government, labour and communities. Du Randt believes that sustainability is no longer a function of corporate responsibility or compliance, but rather a key growth opportunity that differentiates a company from its competition.
“For companies to thrive, the communities they operate in must thrive,”
Du Randt said as with any other business objective, sustainability needs to be driven from the top of the organisation with a clearly defined set of goals, a buy in from all employees and leadership from board and executive level.
Du Randt pointed out that companies need a change in mind set and view sustainability as “going beyond corporate social responsibility” to create sustainable shared value for all stakeholders as a strategic imperative.
Sustainability can deliver commercial benefits. Between 1990 and 2004, DuPont estimated that it reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 72% and has generated $10 billion in revenue from products based on non depletable resources.
She also argued that stakeholders need to have realistic expectations from sustainability and that stakeholder education and inclusion is important.
Du Randt argued that the best way for companies to achieve sustainability is to invest in innovation that improves all aspects of business performance, whether its improvement in production while reducing water and energy consumption or by defining market facing goals which deliver product innovation that reduces the environmental footprint throughout the value chain while providing tangible consumer benefits
There is also emerging debate whether companies should be provided with incentives, including financial incentives, to pursue sustainable practices.
Du Randt pointed out those financial incentives are likely to have a limited impact and the companies should pursue sustainability for their own long term interests.
Du Randt also argued that there are already incentives such as tax breaks in place and the ultimate incentive for any company is increased and sustained profitability, gained through an integrated strategy informed by shared value creation and capture.
Du Randt concluded by noting that as external pressures continue to mount, improved sustainability performance is no longer optional, shareholders and stakeholders expect companies to reduce their environmental foot print.
As companies search for opportunities on the African continent and exploit its resources, they should use innovation and a robust sustainably culture to drive improvement.
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) indicted the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other ministries over administrative lapses that allowed the fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) to operate.
Musa Aliyu, chairman, ICPC, stated that NITDA, alongside the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), the Budget Office, and other bodies, failed to carry out adequate due diligence and standard operating procedures.
ICPC said however, clarified that the findings pointed to severe internal control weaknesses and administrative negligence rather than active official complicity by NITDA and the other affected agencies.
The briefing followed a 30-day investigation ordered by the president on July 7 into allegations surrounding the purported presidential council.
The commission also cleared the presidency and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of any wrongdoing but blamed institutional lapses in several ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Aliyu said investigators established that Adeniyi Adeyemi, the director-general, was never appointed by the federal government and that the PFIPC had no legal existence.
“As you may recall, on the 7th of July, Mr. President directed the ICPC to conduct an investigation into the fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and submit a report within 30 days,” he said.
“Today, exactly within the stipulated period, we have submitted an interim report based on our interactions with all stakeholders involved.”
According to Aliyu, Tinubu directed the commission to make its findings public in the interest of transparency and accountability.
He said the investigation found that Adeyemi’s purported appointment letter was forged.
“It has been established that Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authority whatsoever,” he said.
“The Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, which sometimes they called the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, was never established by any law, executive order or any valid instrument of government.
“The appointment letter presented by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew was completely forged alongside similar documents used to perpetuate the illegal activities of the fake agency.”
Aliyu stated that a purported government gazette used to legitimise the organisation was also fabricated.
“If you recall, there was a gazette which he used to support the fake agency. That gazette is an illegal document that never passed through the processes prescribed by law,” he stated.
“Our investigation found that the office used by the fake agency was the office of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. The office was broken into and access was gained illegally. That was how he was able to operate from there.”
Aliyu also revealed that investigators uncovered two additional fictitious government agencies allegedly created by the suspect — the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency/Public-Private Partnership (FIPA-PPP).
According to him, fake legislative instruments were used to create the agencies and open bank accounts.
Despite the elaborate scheme, the ICPC chairman said the investigation found no evidence that federal government funds were disbursed to the fake council.
“Our investigation found that no funds of the federal government were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC,” he said.
“We also discovered no weaknesses in the systems of the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria during our investigation. The fake appointment letter did not originate from the presidency.
“Our investigation found that some public officers failed to carry out due diligence and failed to comply with standard operating procedures in their ministries and departments. That gave him the opportunity to carry out these illegal acts.”
Nigeria tax system is build on taxing prosperity not poverty, according to Dr. Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman, Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).
Dr. Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman, Nigeria Revenue Service
Adedeji, also dismissed the insinuation that the government’s tax reform is aimed at extracting money from Nigerians .
He said the essence of reform is creating an economic environment where individuals and businesses can prosper.
Dr. Adedeji made the clarifications on Sunday night while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the administration’s tax reforms and addressed concerns over rising government revenue amid the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
According to him, the government’s objective is to tax the fruits of investment rather than the investment itself.
“For us at Nigeria Tax, we are not there to extract. Our focus is not revenue. I don’t want to tax poverty. I’m to tax the fruit, not the seed, and I’m to tax the return, not investment.”
Adedeji explained that the government would generate more revenue as businesses became more profitable, without necessarily increasing the tax burden on individuals and companies.
He said a company that made N100 in profit could generate N30 in tax revenue for the government, but if its profit increased to N200 or N300, government revenue would rise accordingly.
“So, if I want to make more, I must work for you to make more. And that is why it is in the best interest of us in Nigeria Revenue Service that businesses are doing well, individuals are doing well,” he said.
He said the approach was consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda, which seeks to remove barriers to investment and create a more conducive environment for businesses to operate and expand.
Adedeji cited reforms in the electricity sector as part of the government’s efforts to stimulate economic activity.
He noted that the Electricity Act had devolved powers to state governments to generate, transmit and distribute electricity, arguing that improved power supply would boost production and productivity across the economy.
Prof Chidi Oguamanam, Nigerian scholar, has been invited to serve as a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO’s) World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology.
Prof Chidi Oguamanam,
The appointment, which covers four years from 2026 to 2029, recognises Oguamanam’s contributions to the ethics of science and technology and related disciplines.
The invitation was conveyed in a letter from UNESCO on Saturday, which described the commission as an independent advisory body and forum for reflection on major ethical challenges arising from advances in science and technology.
The letter stated, “Recognising your significant contributions to the ethics of science and technology and related disciplines, it is my honour to invite you to become a member of UNESCO’s World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology for a period of four years, from 2026 to 2029.”
Established in 1998, the commission brings together experts from different regions and disciplines to examine ethical issues associated with scientific and technological developments, climate change and the environment.
UNESCO said regional balance was important to the commission’s membership to promote multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary debate on emerging ethical challenges.
According to the organisation, the commission provides guidance and recommendations through its reports to UNESCO, its member states, the scientific community, policymakers, civil society and other stakeholders.
Its previous work has contributed to global normative instruments, including the Declaration of Ethical Principles in Relation to Climate Change adopted in 2017 and the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence adopted in 2021.
UNESCO noted that the commission had recently published reports examining the ethics of quantum computing and space exploration and utilisation.
The organisation said the commission would now focus on new areas identified for its future work programme, including emerging ethical challenges arising from scientific and technological developments.
In inviting Oguamanam to join the commission, UNESCO expressed confidence in his expertise and active contribution to the development of its forthcoming reports.
The organisation also said it expected members to contribute to “horizon scanning” of emerging ethical challenges and help identify issues that should be addressed in the commission’s next cycle.
Oguamanam’s appointment adds to Nigeria’s representation in international discussions on the ethical implications of science, technology and innovation.
He is expected to serve on the commission alongside experts from different regions and academic disciplines during the 2026–2029 term.
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