By Juliet Umeh
The Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria, SPIN, has inducted 79 new members as part of its 2026 Cohort 6, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening sustainability practice and corporate governance across Nigeria.
The induction ceremony in Lagos Victoria Lagos brought together sustainability professionals from various sectors, as well as institutional members including Access Bank, ARM, ARRIDEX, Dangote Cement, FirstBank, IHS, Lotus Bank, Mainstream Energy Solutions, Oando and Seplat Energy.
Speaking at the event with the theme: “Effective Corporate Governance as a Core Sustainability Pillar – Leading the Change,” SPIN Vice President, Dr. Ini Abimbola, said the institute was determined to professionalise sustainability practice and ensure that only qualified professionals drive the sector. She noted that the induction of 79 professionals further strengthens SPIN’s position as one of Africa’s fastest-growing sustainability communities.
According to her, “Today we inducted 79 professionals into our institute, reinforcing our position as the fastest-growing community of sustainability advocates on the African continent. “The sustainability profession has been diluted by unqualified practitioners. Compliance is not sustainability. Governance is the beginning and the end of whether it is environmental, social or sustainability.”
Chairperson of SPIN’s Scientific Committee and Professor of Accounting and Corporate Governance at the University of Nottingham, Prof. Emmanuel Adegbite, in his keynote address, urged sustainability professionals to move beyond regulatory compliance and embrace responsible governance.
He stressed that African countries should develop governance models that reflect local realities rather than relying solely on imported frameworks.
According to him, “Disclosures only transcend into accountability when they are underpinned by good governance. Ambitions will remain just ambition if they are not underpinned by governance.”
Also speaking, President of SPIN, Professor Kenneth Amaeshi, described sustainability as a way of life rather than a compliance exercise, urging members to demonstrate their commitment through measurable actions.
“Sustainability is a movement. It is a way of life, a mindset, and not about checking a box. It is lived, and those who live it will be known by their fruits,” he said.
Amaeshi highlighted the institute’s growth since its establishment in August 2019, noting that SPIN has expanded from seven founding members to a professional body with more than 400 members.
He said the institute has also established strategic partnerships, including a collaboration with the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, ICRS, in the United Kingdom, constituted a Scientific Committee comprising globally recognised scholars, and is pursuing legislation before the National Assembly to attain chartered status.
According to him, SPIN has continued to build capacity through professional training programmes and partnerships with leading Nigerian organisations to raise standards in sustainability practice.
The institute also unveiled plans to launch an annual sustainability conference aimed at deepening discussions on sustainable development, promoting best practices and positioning SPIN as Nigeria’s leading authority on sustainability practice.