Businesses are urged to go beyond viewing sustainability as just an extra responsibility they take on. Instead, it should be an important part of their overall strategy and decision-making processes. This shift not only helps them manage risks better but also creates real value for the business that can be measured.

Chioma Afe, who is the Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy Plc, made this point clear during her talk at the 2026 Sustainability Conference in Lagos, organized by the Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria.

In a panel discussion titled, “The Future-Ready Sustainability Professional: Skills for Navigating Volatile Times,” Afe highlighted the vital role of sustainability professionals in changing how companies view sustainability. She stressed that it shouldn’t be seen just as an expense or a series of community projects.

“Sustainability should not be seen as a drain on resources. It is a key tool for managing risks,” she emphasized.

Afe said during Seplat Energy’s strategy review between 2020 and 2021, the company recognized that sustainability is a central part of their business that can drive returns, rather than treating it as a secondary initiative limited to community engagement.

She pointed out that for sustainability to be effectively integrated, all parts of the organization need to understand its importance. Departments like operations, legal, procurement, finance, and human resources must recognize their roles in identifying and managing sustainability-related risks while also helping to achieve the organization’s broader goals.

Afe highlighted how crucial it is for sustainability professionals to boost their business knowledge and see how their work can solve real business problems.

She said that these experts need to explain how their projects matter to the organization, recognize the risks they are tackling, and demonstrate the advantages they bring, instead of merely completing tasks and submitting reports.

Afe also urged them to look beyond their own organizations and think about the broader environment in which businesses function. “We need to stop funding random acts of kindness,” she stated, emphasizing that organizations must first comprehend the specific business or social issues they aim to address before deciding how to allocate their resources.

She observed that many issues faced by individual companies are linked to larger social, economic, and environmental systems, and resolving these challenges necessitates collaboration among businesses, communities, governments, and other entities.

To identify where to direct their resources, Afe recommended that sustainability professionals utilize tools to evaluate what is most crucial for their business and what is significant to their stakeholders.

This approach allows organizations to move away from projects that are simple to execute and instead concentrate on impactful actions that directly meet important needs.

Afe also emphasized the necessity of using data and evidence to demonstrate whether sustainability initiatives are truly achieving their intended outcomes.

“Focus on what really matters,” she encouraged, urging professionals to pay attention to the key factors that show real progress instead of getting caught up in small, unimportant details.

She highlighted the need for sustainability experts to clearly link the problems they recognize, the solutions they develop, and the positive results they achieve. If a project doesn’t show a meaningful impact, she suggested that people should take a step back and think about whether it’s truly making a difference.

In addition to technical knowledge about sustainability, Afe pointed out that skills like understanding business, being aware of the organization’s dynamics, analyzing data, navigating governance issues, communicating with stakeholders, and managing relationships are becoming increasingly important for those looking to influence top leadership.

She also recommended that professionals familiarize themselves with Nigeria’s rules and regulations and global sustainability trends. This involves keeping an eye on stakeholders, spotting new risks, and identifying gaps in governance. As sustainability practitioners aim for positions on boards and in executive roles, Afe stressed the importance of having a comprehensive understanding of the organization as a whole, not just their specific job.

“You need to understand the whole business to be part of the board,” she stated.