The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has emerged Africa’s most responsible organisation, says SERAS, organizers of Africa Sustainability Awards.
The organizers said the NNPC, through its corporate social responsibility arm, the NNPC Foundation Limited/Gte, was adjusted the Overall Winner/Most Responsible Organisation in Africa at the 19th edition of the Awards held in Lagos.
NNPC Foundation received a total of five awards at the ceremony, which has as its theme: “Sustainability 2.0: Innovating for Impact and Inclusive Growth, Full Disclosure”.
The national oil company emerged winner as “Best in Decent Work/Economic Growth”; “Best in Stakeholder Engagement”; “Best in Poverty Reduction”, along with an individual award of “Africa Sustainability Professional of the Year” clinched by the Managing Director, NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the Board and Senior Management Team of NNPC Limited, the Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC Limited, Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe, described the recognitions as both “a validation” and “a call to deeper national service.”
She reiterated that the Foundation’s work, which aligned strongly with the agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was rooted in inclusiveness, shared prosperity, and sustainable national development.
These awards, she noted, reflect the hopes and lived experiences of over 200 million Nigerians, adding that their voices and expectations shape the work at NNPC as they see the impact, and desire for more.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the top recognition affirms the company’s position as a sustainability leader driving meaningful impact and lasting community development across Nigeria and beyond.
“This win belongs to NNPC Limited. This win belongs to impact. This win belongs to Africa,” she said
Arukwe listed some of the key results achieved by the Foundation during the year to include restoration of sight to over 6,000 Nigerians through the free cataract surgeries programme; rehabilitation of three wards with 100-bed capacity at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos; provision of cancer awareness and screening programmes with over 3,441 Nigerians screened for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers in 2024 alone, as well as the provision of essential medical equipment, including MRI machines, which are now at the final stage of delivery to health facilities across the country.
Others include donation of 40,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) textbooks to public schools in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory; provision of financial literacy training to 1,075,981 National Youth Service Corps members, with startup packs and grants for 531 direct beneficiaries to set up their own businesses.
“We have trained 15,085 vulnerable farmers in climate-smart agriculture; distributed more than 30 truckloads of food, water, medical supplies, and sanitary materials to flood victims in Borno State; conducted large-scale (200,000) tree-planting campaigns in Katsina State and set up environmental clubs and community-based climate resilience projects; and donated 45 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to support public transport and Nigerias transition to cleaner energy. All our initiatives, from farmer support to youth programmes, are monitored to ensure long-term impact,” she stated.
She said the five awards won by the NNPC Foundation demonstrate the direct outcome of the company’s leadership in sustainability, placing the Foundation ahead of other major institutions in the final rankings for 2025.
Founder of SERAS Africa, Mr. Ken Egbas, commended NNPC Foundation for its record in sustainability and community development.
He noted that SERAS, established in 2007, was now the second-oldest sustainability award scheme globally after the Reuters Business Award and remains the benchmark for corporate social responsibility in Africa. This year’s edition attracted 325 entries from 31 African countries, making it the largest and most competitive in the history of the awards.
