It was a night of glitz, glamour and celebration at the 18th edition of the SERAS Africa Sustainability Awards, held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lagos, on Saturday, December 14, 2024.

Leading brands like Zenith Bank Plc, International Breweries Plc, NNPC Foundation, and others took centerstage, carting home the coveted awards.

Zenith Bank Plc stole the show on the night by emerging as the overall Best Responsible Corporate Organisation in Africa ahead of NNPC Foundation, International Breweries Plc, and Nasper and Prosus, which came second, third, and fourth, respectively.

The bank was also crowned as the Best Company in Transparency & Reporting and the Best Company in Gender Equality & Women Empowerment.

International Breweries Plc won two categories — Best in Poverty Reduction and Best in Climate Action, while NNPC Foundation was recognised as the Best in Good Health & Well Being and Best in Workplace Practice.

The Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari was crowned as the CEO of the Year.

Other winners at the 2024 SERAS include Lagos Free Zone, IHS Tower, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Bank of Industry, BUA/Abdul Samad Rabiu Foundation, Nestle Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Live Your Dreams Africa, Building Practice, Polaris Bank, Seplat, Heir Insurance, Channels TV, OKOBI-an initiative of Imo State Government, and Airtel/UNICEF.

In her welcome remarks, Mary Ephraim-Egbas, the Executive Director of the SERAS Africa Sustainability Awards, stated that the award, which began 18 years ago, has evolved into a prime sustainability platform in Africa and the gold standard for recognising organisations at the forefront of driving change.

Egbas noted that the award has led to the transformative journey of initiatives that have shaped communities and inspired a shared resolve to actualise the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

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She stated that this year’s edition was remarkable as it recorded an unprecedented 256 entries, with 41 organisations participating for the first time.

According to her, the feat is not just a number but a confirmation of the growing commitment to sustainability, innovation, and collective impact across the continent.

Speaking on the 2024 edition of the award themed ‘Beyond Sustainability: Enabling Business Transformation Through Full Disclosure,’ the lead convener, SERAS, Ken Egbas, affirmed that many organisations had demonstrated exemplary leadership, creativity, and a commitment to sustainable development considering the level of investment witnessed in the last 12 months.

While congratulating the participants, including the winners, for making it to the finals of the awards, he noted that their contributions to sustainable development in Africa remain invaluable.

“Tonight is not just a celebration of achievements but a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and collaboration in driving Africa toward a more sustainable future. Whether you are a long-standing advocate or a first-time participant, your efforts ripple across the continent, creating a legacy of hope, resilience, and innovation,” he said.