Leading operator of shared communications infrastructure, IHS Nigeria, has reiterated its commitment to advancing sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment through responsible telecommunication infrastructure.
The company, through its Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr Kazeem Oladepo, emphasised that sustainability remains central to its operations and long-term strategy.
“Sustainability is at the heart of who we are. It is embedded within our corporate values and reflected in every aspect of our operations, from powering sites sustainably to nurturing the communities we serve and promoting sound ethical practices throughout our business,” Mr Oladepo said in his keynote address at the Sustainability Table Discourse Series (STS), where he was represented by the Director for Government and External Relations at IHS Nigeria, Mr Gimba Mohammed.
He added that, “At IHS Nigeria, we are deliberate about scaling impact through sustainable infrastructure. Our mission is to ensure that our assets not only connect people digitally but also empower them environmentally, economically, and socially.”
The summit themed Sustainability in Action: Scaling the Impact of a Thriving Future to Achieve the SDGs, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and private sector players to discuss the role of collaboration, innovation, and circular economy models in achieving Nigeria’s sustainability goals.
Speaking further, Mr Oladepo, in his speech titled Sustainability in Action: Scaling Impact for a Thriving Future Through Sustainable Telecommunications Infrastructure – A Provider’s Perspective, described the Project Green initiative of IHS Group as a key step in the company’s carbon reduction roadmap.
“Through Project Green, IHS Towers continues to prioritize alternative energy sources to reduce dependency on diesel. Across our markets, we have reduced diesel consumption by nearly 50 million litres, and in Nigeria fitted over 6,000 power sites with hybrid energy solutions, and connected almost 4,000 sites to the grid,” he disclosed.
In addition to its clean energy initiatives, IHS Nigeria has made significant strides in community and environmental development, including planting 4,000 trees across eight states, installing solar streetlights in underserved communities, and collaborating with Green Hope Africa to launch the Climate Action Superheroes (CASH) initiative, an educational programme aimed at empowering students to become climate ambassadors.
The company’s efforts in e-waste management were also highlighted, following its partnership with the Electronic Producers Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (EPRON).
“We trained 214 participants, including collectors and regulators, and supported the establishment of 69 waste collection centers across six states and the FCT. Our goal is to drive sustainable waste management practices through advocacy and strategic collaboration,” Mr Oladepo stated.
During the panel session, the Director for Engineering and Design at IHS Nigeria, Mr Ghaith Al Hasan, elaborated on the success of Project Green and the importance of strong partnerships in achieving scale.
“Our experience has shown that the right partnerships, technologies, and maintenance structures are essential for sustainability. Today, IHS operates renewable energy systems across more than 10,000 sites in Nigeria, demonstrating what is possible when innovation meets commitment,” he stated.
Adding a regulatory perspective, the Principal Environmentalist Scientist and Regulatory Specialist at the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Ms Grace Majekodunmi, said, “Producers must now take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, from production to disposal. The Extended Producer Responsibility framework ensures that manufacturers adopt cleaner technologies and minimize waste.”
Also commenting, the chief executive of Farmz2U, Ms Aisha Raheem-Bolarinwa, said, “We don’t have a production problem as much as we have a distribution problem. Technology can enable resilience, but without hard infrastructure and supportive policy, farmers cannot access the full benefits.”
An investment director at ARM-Harith Infrastructure Limited, Ms Adaobi Nnorukah,, noted that, “Successful climate projects require institutional investors at the table from the start. Early collaboration helps identify and manage risks, ensuring projects remain bankable and sustainable.”