Making an Impact: The Brands We Love
February is widely recognised as the month of love. For most, the focus of their love is on personal relationships. However, at ESGIA, we also believe this is a time to celebrate organisations that demonstrate love through quantifiable impact.
Thanks to our work with clients and interactions with brands across Africa and beyond, we have seen firsthand that some companies are not only about profit-making. They are actively transforming lives, empowering communities, and driving sustainability in meaningful ways.
Therefore, in this season of love and appreciation, we are celebrating some brands that go beyond business as usual, making a difference through sustainability, education, empowerment, and economic growth.
Here’s why they stole our hearts
1. Sterling One Foundation – Advancing Inclusive Education
Sterling One Foundation is known for tackling some of Nigeria’s biggest social challenges, from healthcare to environmental sustainability. However, one area where they’ve recently made a significant impact is education.
In January 2025, Sterling One Foundation partnered with CDIAL AI to launch the Indigenous Multilingual Digital Literacy and Artificial Intelligence Hub in Ajegunle, Lagos. This initiative provided AI-driven educational tools in 13 African languages to 174 learners, ensuring that underserved communities could achieve digital literacy in their native tongues. By promoting technology-based education in marginalised areas, the foundation is bridging educational gaps and creating more inclusive learning opportunities.
Additionally, the foundation has played a key role in tackling gender-based violence by partnering with the UN and the British High Commission to raise awareness and advocate for policy changes. Their consistent work in community-driven initiatives makes them an organisation worth recognising.
2. Arise IIP – Driving Industrial and Economic Growth
When it comes to sustainable industrialisation, Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP) is setting new standards. The company develops industrial parks across Africa, ensuring that economic growth is accompanied by environmental responsibility and social development.
In October 2024, Arise IIP successfully secured a US$443 million capital raise, backed by the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). This funding is to be used to expand their industrial parks, creating more job opportunities and enabling economic development in multiple African countries.
What makes Arise IIP particularly admirable is its holistic approach. Beyond business growth, it invests in community well-being. In Gabon, for example, they’ve donated ambulances and mobile clinics, improving access to healthcare in industrial zones. Their commitment to embedding sustainability into large-scale industrial projects makes them a standout organisation.
3. Seplat Energy – Empowering Women and Communities
As one of Nigeria’s leading energy companies, Seplat Energy goes beyond oil and gas—it actively invests in people. A core part of their mission is empowering women, both within their workforce and in local communities.
Their impact was recently recognised in December 2024 when Seplat Energy won the “Best in Social Impact/Human Capacity Development” award at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility Awards (SERAS) Africa. This award shows their efforts in leadership training for women, supporting female-owned businesses, and improving access to education and healthcare.
Seplat Energy has also been a driving force behind STEM education for young girls, creating scholarship programs and mentorship opportunities to encourage more women to enter the energy sector. Their approach to gender inclusion, coupled with their broader social responsibility initiatives, makes them a brand that truly cares.
4. Verod Capital – Supporting Sustainable Business Growth
Verod Capital is an investment firm with a clear focus: supporting businesses that are sustainable, innovative, and capable of driving long-term economic growth. Their approach to private equity goes beyond financial returns. They invest in companies that align with Africa’s development goals.
One of their most notable contributions is their investment in a leading off-grid energy provider, aimed at tackling Africa’s electricity deficit. This move not only supported sustainable energy solutions but also created jobs and expanded access to power in underserved areas. In 2022, they successfully exited this investment through a sale to Shell Energy, proving that impactful investments can also be profitable.
Beyond energy, Verod Capital supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in sectors like healthcare, education, and technology, ensuring that African businesses have the resources they need to grow. Their dedication to responsible investing makes them a firm that is shaping the future of business in Africa.
Why This Matters
The brands we have highlighted share a common thread as they go beyond profits to make a real impact. They invest in people, communities, and the future of Africa. Their initiatives in education, industrial development, gender empowerment, and sustainable investments are reshaping industries and creating lasting change.
At ESGIA, we believe that true leadership is not just about financial success but about how businesses use their influence to create a better world. This February, as we celebrate love, let’s also celebrate the organisations showing love through action.
Who are the brands you admire for their impact? Let’s keep this conversation going.
PS: The 4 brands highlighted in this article are a small part of a larger list of 14 brands that have our hearts. To see that complete list, be sure to check out our social media pages.
