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By Chinenye Anuforo
The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), Nigeria’s foremost platform for unlocking impact capital, has announced plans to host the third edition of its Gender Impact Investment Summit (GIIS) on October 2, 2025, at the Civic Centre in Lagos.
The annual summit serves as a key convening point for stakeholders seeking to dismantle systemic barriers that restrict women’s access to finance and to accelerate a more inclusive investment ecosystem in Nigeria.
Building on previous editions that spotlighted financing gaps and gender-inclusive investment models, this year’s summit will move from dialogue to delivery. With the theme, “Investing in Equity: Advancing Gender-Led Solutions for Inclusive Development,” the 2025 summit will introduce a comprehensive roadmap outlining targeted interventions to drive inclusive capital mobilisation.
A major highlight will be the unveiling of the Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Roadmap, a strategic framework aimed at addressing the structural barriers that women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) face in accessing finance. The roadmap is expected to guide investors, enterprises, and policymakers in embedding inclusive practices across Nigeria’s investment landscape.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Etemore Glover, CEO of Impact Investors Foundation, said:
“This summit is about more than just talk; it’s about action. By shifting our focus from advocacy to a powerful business strategy, we’re proving that investing with a gender lens isn’t just about doing good—it’s about achieving higher returns.”
The summit will also feature in-person and virtual deal rooms, giving women-led and women-owned businesses direct access to capital providers. These sessions are designed to foster partnerships, unlock financing opportunities, and translate gender-lens investment conversations into tangible results.
The event will draw a diverse audience, including entrepreneurs, financial institutions, enterprise support organisations, government representatives, and the media. Attendees will engage in panel discussions, fireside chats, networking sessions, and knowledge-sharing forums with thought leaders from across business, finance, and policy.
Jessica Espinoza, CEO of 2X Global, the global industry body for gender-lens investing, will deliver the keynote address.
Glover added: “Through GIIS, IIF is committed to positioning Nigeria as a leader in gender-inclusive investments—demonstrating that economic prosperity and social impact can go hand in hand.”
