Business executives advocate sustainable practices at maiden YDF conference

Business executives have advised companies in Nigeria to teach and institutionalise sustainable practices in order to build a healthier and safer working environment.

Corporate players, who spoke on Tuesday at the Young Directors Forum maiden conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) in Lagos, made a case for sustainable practices relating to the environment, economics and society.

Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, head of group sustainability at Access Holdings, said companies must be committed to zero emissions and must ensure continuous improvement and culture transformation.

She advised businesses to educate their workers on corporate sustainability, adding that intentional steps must be taken to recruit a sustainability team to achieve companies’ set goals.

“I came here with my husband and we decided to come with just a car. Not because we couldn’t afford two but because car sharing is important to ways we can ensure a sustainable environment,” she said.

“Business owners should invest in sustainability teams, that is what we did at Access and we hear the testimonies all the time.

“Sustainable practices do a company more favour. In this current world, investors are now conscious of the stance of companies toward sustainability in terms of environment and the business itself.”

Adetayo Bamiduro, chief executive officer of Max, a mobility tech company, emphasised the need for coporate entities to solve existing problems without creating new ones.

He said his company’s mission is centred around creating affordable products and services for drivers and also embracing the future of renewable energy driven by electric vehicles in Africa.

“We have a very deep sense of purpose and mission to live not just for ourselves but for our communities. To put in the work with deep understanding of the impact it is having on our communities,” he said.

Akin Ogunbiyi, chairman of Mutual Benefits Group, said companies must structurally position their businesses in ways that would outlive the founders.

He said sustainability is not only about the environment, adding that the mission and company culture are important to ensure that a business remains functional even after the owner is dead.

“Even after death, companies are supposed to be structured in a way that would outlive their founders,” Ogunbiyi said.