The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) launched the 2025 Nigeria Impact Investing Ecosystem Mapping and Market Sizing Report at its 8th Annual Convening on Impact Investing in Lagos, aiming to mobilize capital for inclusive and sustainable growth in Nigeria's impact economy.

The two‑day ACII brought together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and DFIs to stress that policy coherence is essential, or Nigeria’s impact economy risks stalling despite growing investor interest.

The report builds on a 2019 baseline to provide an evidence‑based map of market structure, trends, and opportunities to guide policymakers, DFIs, and investors.

Participants identified the creative economy and climate‑focused enterprises as key avenues for youth employment, innovation, and resilience building.

ACII produced concrete actions on capital mobilization, regulatory reform, and pipeline strengthening, including innovative and blended finance structures and dedicated deal rooms to connect investment‑ready SMEs with investors.

Outcomes highlighted included use of blended finance to mobilise catalytic capital at scale, with emphasis on regulatory reforms and stronger deal pipelines.

High‑potential sectors such as Climate and Sustainability and the Creative Economy were spotlighted, with a focus on linking commercial returns to measurable social and environmental impact to attract global impact capital estimated in the vicinity of $98 trillion in assets under management.

Discussions urged mobilising capital through policy reforms and enterprise support to attract patient, catalytic capital, tying financial performance to social and environmental outcomes.

A major emphasis was placed on sectors like Climate and Sustainability and the Creative Economy, advocating an impact economy that links profits to measurable impact.

Participants called for embedding impact investing frameworks in public spending and national development plans to create an enabling environment for blended finance and private investment.

Blended finance was highlighted as essential to attract long‑term, patient capital for infrastructure, green energy, and social enterprises in Nigeria.

Deal rooms facilitated direct connections between SMEs and investors, with Enterprise Support Organisations helping prepare entrepreneurs for impact measurement and reporting standards.

Deal rooms matched investment‑ready SMEs with investors, underscoring the role of ESOs in prepping businesses for impact investing.

Inflation and FX pressures were acknowledged as headwinds but also as catalysts for innovative capital deployment strategies.

The event, hosted at the Civic Centre in Lagos, featured panels, deal rooms, and networking focused on innovative finance structures like blended finance and stronger ESOs.

The ACII culminated with an Annual Dinner and Awards, including the Innocent Chukwuma Award for Social Impact recognizing NGOs and civil society organizations for measurable value.

Overall, the gathering reinforced that sustainable development in Nigeria requires ongoing collaboration among government, investors, and enterprises.

Panel sessions explored structuring innovative finance models to scale Nigeria’s impact economy and unlocking capital through policy reforms and data‑driven strategies.

Event activity highlighted data‑driven policy reforms to unlock Nigeria’s impact capital, with a view toward capturing a meaningful share of global assets under management around $98 trillion.

ACII was framed as a catalyst for inclusive growth and resilient investment ecosystems delivering social, environmental, and financial returns.

Etemore Glover, IIF's CEO, described the report as essential for directing capital toward impact‑aligned growth and a more resilient investment ecosystem.

Participants pledged to embed impact investing principles into Nigeria’s national development strategies, targeting job creation, productivity, and improved access to essentials like healthcare and education.