IMPACT INVESTING
AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH
Henrietta OnwuegbuzieAcademic Director, Lagos Business School
Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Nigeria
What is Inclusive Growth?Inclusive growth is about ensuring all strata of society contribute to and benefit from the national economy.• Leads to sustainable socio-economic development
No inclusive growth in Nigeria
Rising poverty despite economic growthSource: Nigerian Bureau of statistics 2012
Wide disparity between economic growth and social development
“Gaining weight while you OWE me MONEY is a
form of DISRESPECT”
What is Impact Investing?Impact Investing involves building profitable businesses around social problems.• The business makes money from creating a positive social impact e.g through skill acquisition
For-profit Businesses with a social mission
Benefits of Impact Investing…
• Ensures businesses achieve the triple bottom-line- economic, social and environmental goals • Bridges the gap between aggressive economic growth and lagging social development• Makes doing good and doing well compatible
Video-Impact Investing businessesDoing good is good for business
“You don’t need to have a lot of money before you can help others. With the little you have, you can always do something to help.”
- Nike Davies-Okundaye
“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right… the right to dignity and a decent life”
Nelson Mandela
2011, Screw Business as Usual. Virgin Books, Ebury Publishing, UK
“If business people consistently acted in socially and environmentally responsible ways, …the world will be a better and fairer place. Justice will prevail, poor people will be helped out of poverty and everyone would have the means by which they could improve their own lives without depending on charitable handouts for years on end.”
Richard Branson
Call for action Be convinced … it is in our own interest to work earnestly towards inclusive growth
Businesses can serve as a tool for inclusive growth by adopting an Impact investing business model
Advocate for government to enact national policies that provide incentives to encourage individuals/organizations to adopt Impact Investing business models.
You and I can make a difference
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