The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), in partnership with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), and global consultancy firm Ernst & Young (EY), has announced a two-day technical training programme to strengthen sustainability disclosures among Nigerian companies.
The training, which will take place at the Lagos Zonal Office of the SEC from September 10–11, 2025, aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools required to adopt and apply the ISSB Standards—particularly IFRS S1 (General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information) and IFRS S2 (Climate-related Disclosures).
According to the organisers, the programme is designed to be learner-centric, with a structure that blends technical presentations, interactive sessions, and real-world applications.
The approach will ensure participants can not only recall the requirements but also implement sustainability standards effectively within their organisations.
The sessions will be led by key ISSB board members, including Dr. Ndidi Nnoli Edozien, a Nigerian sustainability advocate, and Dr. Richard Barker, alongside Neil Stewart, Director of Corporate Outreach at the IFRS Foundation.
“This training reflects the ISSB’s commitment to helping businesses integrate sustainability disclosures into their financial reporting in line with global best practices,” the organisers said in a statement.
The programme is targeted at a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including:
Listed and private companies preparing to align with ISSB standards
Public Interest Entities (PIEs) with reporting obligations
Accounting professionals involved in sustainability and financial reporting
Risk managers, ESG controllers, investor relations officers, and sustainability reporting managers
The training also opens participation to external reporting managers and compliance officers nominated by their firms.
By focusing on both theory and practice, the ISSB and its Nigerian partners intend to close the knowledge gap that has often hindered the adoption of sustainability reporting in the region.
The collaboration between ISSB, SEC, FRCN, and NGX RegCo comes at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to align with global sustainability benchmarks.
In recent years, regulators have pushed for stronger adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices to attract foreign investment and promote accountability in business operations.
The SEC and NGX have previously introduced guidelines on sustainability disclosures for listed companies, but uptake has remained uneven.
Analysts believe that structured training programmes like this will accelerate compliance, particularly for firms seeking to maintain competitiveness in international markets.
Globally, sustainability standards are no longer voluntary extras—they are becoming mandatory reporting frameworks.
From Europe’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to the United States’ increasing focus on climate risk disclosures, companies without transparent ESG reporting risk losing access to capital, markets, and investor confidence.
For Nigeria, where many companies rely on international funding, adoption of ISSB standards is seen as crucial.
“If Nigerian firms can align with ISSB’s frameworks, they not only improve transparency but also position themselves for global capital flows,” said a Lagos-based financial analyst.
IFRS S1 sets out general requirements for companies to disclose material sustainability-related risks and opportunities that could affect enterprise value.
IFRS S2 builds specifically on climate-related disclosures, requiring firms to report on governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics tied to climate impacts.
The standards, released by the ISSB under the IFRS Foundation, are designed to create a globally consistent sustainability reporting baseline—reducing the fragmentation caused by multiple voluntary frameworks.
As Nigerian regulators collaborate with global institutions, expectations are high that this two-day programme will serve as a launchpad for greater ESG compliance in Africa’s largest economy.
Industry watchers predict that with growing demand from investors for credible sustainability reports, training initiatives like this will soon become the norm, not the exception.
With breakfast, lunch, networking breaks, and interactive engagement built into the event, participants are expected to leave with practical skills and stronger connections across industries.
Ultimately, the success of the training may help Nigeria’s corporate sector move closer to global sustainability reporting standards, bridging the gap between local practice and international expectations.
