AIICO Insurance Reaffirms Commitment to ESG Adoption and Achieving SDGs

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

AIICO Insurance Plc has restated its dedication to adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices in support of achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The company made this known during a recent one-day training workshop organized for members of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos.

In her presentation, Mrs. Abimbola Shobanjo, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, emphasized the company’s commitment to ESG and its contribution to the SDGs.

She highlighted the company’s Climate-smart initiatives, Green office practices, and sustainable resource management efforts, including calculating baseline emissions, reducing paper consumption, and adopting hybrid work arrangements aimed at protecting the environment.

On the Social front, Mrs. Shobanjo explained that AIICO is focused on diversity and inclusion, considering employee engagement, gender diversity, and fostering a supportive work culture. She mentioned the company’s upcoming employee engagement survey, which will include sections on diversity and inclusion, and outlined various community programs and outreach efforts, such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives related to health, education, and financial inclusion.

Regarding Governance, she reiterated AIICO’s commitment to ethical business practices, transparency, strong leadership, and internal governance frameworks, which include regular audits and compliance checks in line with both local and global regulations.

She also outlined AIICO’s contributions to the SDGs through various initiatives, including Pink by AIICO, ActionAid Nigeria, AIICO Revive, AIICO Blood Drive, World Malaria Day, Health & Safety at AIICO, Global Money Week, Girls in Tech, academic support, and school outreach programs.

Other initiatives mentioned were the AIICO Graduate Trainee Programme, Diversity & Inclusion, International Women’s Day, tree planting, agricultural support, AIICO Farming Club, work-from-home arrangements, and centralized printing.

Looking ahead, Mrs. Shobanjo noted that AIICO’s upcoming programs will focus on strengthening environmental initiatives (including more climate action, such as GHG emission calculations, waste reduction through process digitalization, and recycling); expanding social impact efforts (such as community outreach and employee well-being); enhancing corporate governance (with more training for leadership and continuous assessment and improvement of internal controls); and integrating ESG into business operations through ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Management Systems (SRMS).