The Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN) hosted its inaugural Scientific Induction Committee on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The virtual event, themed “Mainstreaming Sustainability in Africa: Professionalism, Standardization, and Capabilities,” gathered prominent scholars, industry leaders, and sustainability professionals to develop Africa-focused solutions for sustainability.
Moderated by Dr. Mories Atoki (Hon.), SPIN’s Legal Director, and sponsored by First Bank of Nigeria PLC, the event featured keynote speeches and panel discussions led by internationally acclaimed experts. Among them was Professor Kenneth Amaeshi, President of SPIN and Professor of Sustainable Finance at the European University Institute, who delivered a powerful address on the need for “decolonizing sustainability frameworks” by centering local realities. He emphasized, “Africa must redefine sustainability based on its unique environmental, social, and economic contexts.”
During the event, Vice President Ini Abimbola administered the SPIN induction oath to the newly appointed scientific committee members, urging them to foster professionalism, standardization, and capacity building in the sustainability sector, thereby shaping the future of sustainable development in Africa.
The newly inducted scientific committee of SPIN is composed of seven esteemed scholars and practitioners. Professor Emmanuel Adegbite, a Professor of Accounting and Corporate Governance at Nottingham University Business School, highlighted the importance of corporate governance in advancing sustainable business practices.
Professor Judy Muthuri, a Professor of Sustainable Business and Development at the University of West Indies, underscored the value of integrating indigenous knowledge and community-driven approaches in sustainability strategies.
The committee members also addressed the complexities of sustainability in Africa. Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, a Professor of Global Climate Governance and Public Policy at the University of Bristol, called for justice-centered policies to tackle historical inequities. Professor Uwafiokun Idemudia, Dean of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences at the University of Guelph, advocated for multi-stakeholder collaboration to combat environmental degradation. Dr. Adaeze Okoye, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Lead at the University of Brighton, stressed the importance of regulatory frameworks that ensure equity and inclusion in sustainability efforts.
The event featured a wealth of expert perspectives on innovative approaches to sustainability. Dr. Natalie Beinisch, Co-founder of the Circular Economy Innovation Partnership, shared her expertise on leveraging circular economy principles. Professor Tazeeb Rajwani, Chaired Professor of International Business and Strategy at Surrey Business School, analyzed geopolitical shifts and their impact on sustainability practices, urging African businesses to develop resilient, context-specific strategies.
Building on these discussions, Ismail Omamegbe, SPIN’s Director of Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement, outlined the committee’s future roadmap, saying, “We are eager to incorporate our new scientific committee members’ insights into shaping our research, policy development, and capacity-building initiatives.”
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Eunice Sampson, SPIN’s Director of Learning and Development, reiterated the committee’s core vision. “Through this esteemed committee, we will redefine sustainability in Africa, focusing on localized solutions and decolonizing our approaches. Our commitment remains on driving inclusive, data-driven growth through strong political engagement and cross-sector collaboration.”