NNPC foundation honoured as Africa’s most responsible organisation at SERAS awards

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Foundation has been recognised as Africa’s Most Responsible Organisation at the 2025 SERAS Sustainability Awards, cementing its position as a leader in sustainable development and social impact on the continent.

The award ceremony took place in Lagos on Saturday night and marked the 19th edition of Africa’s premier sustainability recognition platform.

This year’s edition, themed “Sustainability 2.0,” celebrated organisations and individuals demonstrating innovation, measurable impact, and transparency in driving development initiatives across Africa.

The NNPC Foundation emerged as a standout, winning five major awards including Best in Decent Work, Best in Stakeholder Engagement, Best in Poverty Reduction, and Africa Sustainability Professional of the Year.

Speaking after receiving the awards, Managing Director Emmanuella Arukwe described the recognition as a validation of the Foundation’s far-reaching interventions across Nigeria.

“This acknowledgment reinforces our commitment to sustainable development, innovation, and community empowerment.

“This win is for NNPC Limited, for impact, and for Africa as a whole, ” she said.

The Foundation’s work spans multiple sectors, including health, education, environment, cleaner energy, and poverty alleviation, covering all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Arukwe highlighted some of the Foundation’s recent achievements: over 6,000 free cataract surgeries restoring sight and livelihoods, renovation of three 100-bed wards at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Lagos, and the expansion of nationwide cancer awareness and screening programmes, including provision of MRI machines to key centres.

In education, more than 40,000 STEM books were distributed to public schools across the country, while over one million members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) received financial literacy training and start-up support, empowering young people entering the workforce.

The Foundation has also been active in humanitarian support, delivering 30 truckloads of food, water, and medical supplies to flood-affected communities in Borno State.

Agricultural initiatives have reached 15,085 vulnerable farmers, providing training in climate-smart practices, verified seedlings, and ongoing monitoring to ensure sustainable impact.

Environmental programmes include tree-planting campaigns, climate-resilience projects, and the establishment of environmental clubs in communities, with significant afforestation efforts in Katsina to combat land degradation.

On clean energy, 45 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses were donated to support public transportation and the transition to greener energy solutions.

Every project implemented by the Foundation undergoes rigorous sustainability assessment to ensure long-term impact, Arukwe noted.

In the area of healthcare, the Foundation screened 3,441 Nigerians in 2024 for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers as part of its ongoing nationwide interventions.

Arukwe emphasised that the Foundation’s programmes continue to provide hope and tangible benefits for underserved communities across Nigeria.

SERAS Founder Ken Egbas commended the Foundation for its commitment to community empowerment and sustainable development.

He highlighted the growth of the awards from its modest beginnings in 2007 to a respected continental benchmark, with 325 entries from 31 African countries this year alone.

Egbas described SERAS as the second-oldest sustainability award in the world after the Reuters Business Award, and a platform that sets the standard for sustainability excellence in Africa.

Reflecting on the broader impact of the awards, Egbas noted that they celebrate real-life change, from children returning to school and communities gaining access to clean water, to patients regaining their sight.

“Africa needs more. Africa deserves more. The future demands more,” he said, urging leaders across the continent to commit to sustainable development practices.

The 2025 SERAS Sustainability Awards have thus not only highlighted corporate and organisational excellence but also underscored the importance of innovation, transparency, and measurable social impact in shaping Africa’s sustainable future.