CSR-in-Action Group, a global sustainability advocacy and consulting firm, successfully concluded its 12th Sustainability in the Extractive Industries (SITEI) Conference at Four Points Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The conference, themed ‘The SDGs and the Extractive Sector: Aligning Governance, Policies, and Practices,’ aimed to align Nigeria’s extractive sector with global development goals.
Sponsored by the Ford Foundation and supported by Access Bank, the event drew notable figures, including UN Women’s Country Representative, Beatrice Eyong, and key representatives from various sectors. Bekeme Masade-Olowola, CEO of CSR-in-Action, highlighted the organization’s mission to foster collaboration and ensure governmental policies play a pivotal role in enforcing sustainable practices.
Addressing the imperative for environmental responsibility, Murjanatu Gamawa from NNPC emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to the Paris Agreement. Dayo Okusami, Co-Head, Energy and Resource Practice at Templars, stressed the practical significance of economic viability in policy implementation, particularly in the context of the energy transition.
The conference, organized in partnership with key institutions like the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Ford Foundation, continued its tradition of providing a platform for high-level discussions on positive transformations in the extractive sector.
The plenary sessions concluded with recommendations for establishing robust institutions conducive to fostering economic growth. CSR-in-Action remains at the forefront of sustainability advocacy, driving change, and making a positive impact on society and the planet.
The event culminated in the unveiling of research on the progress of implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) within host communities. The study focused on its implications for women in the oil-producing regions of Akwa Ibom, Delta State, and Rivers State. Almost two years after its enactment, the PIA’s impact on gender equity and the involvement of women in decision-making processes within the industry was assessed. The executive summary of the research is accessible at sitei.org/pia-research.