The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Foundation Ltd. Has been crowned Most Responsible Organisation in Africa at the 2025 SERAS Sustainability Awards, clinching the overall continental prize at the 19th edition of Africa’s leading sustainability event held Saturday night in Lagos.

The prestigious ceremony, themed “Sustainability 2.0: Innovating for Impact and Inclusive Growth — Full Disclosure,” saw NNPC Foundation win a total of five major awards, reaffirming its leadership in sustainable development across the continent.

The awards include:

Most Responsible Organisation in Africa (Overall Continental Prize)

Best in Decent Work & Economic Growth

Best in Stakeholder Engagement

Best Company in Poverty Reduction

Africa Sustainability Professional of the Year

Speaking after receiving the awards, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, said the honour acknowledges the Foundation’s measurable impact and positions it ahead of leading institutions such as Zenith Bank and the Bank of Industry.

“This top recognition affirms our position as a sustainability leader driving meaningful impact, innovation, and transformative community development across Nigeria and beyond,” she said.

“This win is for NNPC Limited… This win is for impact. This win is for Africa.”

Arukwe highlighted the Foundation’s extensive interventions across Nigeria, noting its work in health, education, environment, cleaner energy, and poverty alleviation.

Major Impact Achievements

Health Sector

Over 6,000 free cataract surgeries conducted, restoring sight and livelihoods.

Rehabilitation of three wards with a 100-bed capacity at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

Nationwide cancer awareness, screening, and provision of essential health infrastructure, including MRI machines.

Education Sector

Distribution of over 40,000 STEM books to public schools across all 36 states and the FCT.

Financial literacy training for 1,075,981 NYSC members, promoting youth inclusion.

Empowerment of over 1 million corps members, including 5,000 direct beneficiaries supported with startup resources.

Emergency & Social Relief

Distribution of over 30 truckloads of food, water, medical consumables, and sanitary materials to flood victims in Borno State.

Agriculture & Food Security

15,085 vulnerable farmers trained on climate-smart agriculture and market access strategies.

Provision of verified seedlings and continued monitoring to ensure long-term sustainability.

Environment & Climate Action

Tree-planting campaigns in Katsina State.

Establishment of environmental clubs and community-based climate resilience projects.

Cleaner Energy

Donation of over 45 CNG buses, strengthening public transport and supporting Nigeria’s clean energy transition.

Arukwe emphasized that every project undergoes strict sustainability checks before implementation. “All our initiatives—from farmer support to youth empowerment—are monitored to ensure long-term impact,” she added.

She affirmed the Foundation’s nationwide reach, noting that all its programs cut across the six geopolitical zones. In 2024 alone, over 3,441 Nigerians were screened for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers as part of ongoing national cancer interventions.

“With millions of lives already touched, NNPC Foundation continues to serve as a beacon of hope for underserved communities across the country,” she said.

SERAS Founder Commends NNPC Foundation.

Founder of SERAS Africa, Mr. Ken Egbas, praised the Foundation for its outstanding record in sustainability and community empowerment.

He said all awardees demonstrated leadership worthy of recognition, celebration, and emulation.

Egbas, in an emotionally charged address, recounted the evolution of SERAS from its humble beginnings in 2007 into Africa’s most respected sustainability benchmark.

He highlighted that entries have grown from a handful to 325 submissions this year, covering 31 African countries.

He described SERAS as now the second-oldest sustainability award globally, after the Reuters Business Award, and a “gold standard for sustainability excellence in Africa.”

Egbas emphasized that sustainability has become the currency of global competitiveness and a defining factor for Africa’s future.

He celebrated the transformative stories behind the awards—children gaining access to education, communities receiving clean water, patients regaining their sight, and rural livelihoods revitalized.

“Africa needs more. Africa deserves more. The future demands more,” he said, calling on leaders across the continent to commit to building the Africa they envision.

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