Shared Value Isn’t a Buzzword — It’s the Blueprint for Africa’s Future

By Kanma Ekpe, Executive Director at Shared Value Nigeria. Kanma specializes in sales, marketing and business transformation, with a decade of experience across financial services, healthcare, and social impact sectors. He is passionate about the intersection between value creation and sustainable growth in business

A few weeks ago, I was on the phone with a client who needed to urgently access unanticipated healthcare for their kids — the total cost adding up to a sizeable sum. They had been saved the financial inconvenience of squeezing the funds as an out-of-pocket expense, and they were most thankful. That call reminded me that impact isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s in the quiet relief of a parent who can protect their child because systems worked.

That’s what Shared Value means to me: business models that solve real problems. It’s why the upcoming Africa Shared Value & ESG Summit 2026 in Nigeria is more than just another conference — it’s a call to action for businesses across the continent.

Why Shared Value Matters
My journey in insurance began nearly a decade ago at Allianz Nigeria, where I spent 9 years working across the life and general business. In 2025, I made the move into health insurance, joining Bastion Health as Group Head, Retail & SME.

Throughout this journey, one thing has become clear: business and purpose are not in conflict — they are co-drivers of innovation and relevance. Shared Value invites us to design products, build partnerships, and scale services in ways that benefit both the bottom line and the people we serve.

In health, this could mean protecting families from catastrophic expenses. In other sectors, it might look different — but the principle holds: when value is shared, society thrives.

Collaboration is the Competitive Edge
Africa’s biggest challenges won’t be solved in isolation. Whether it’s improving access to healthcare, building climate resilience, or expanding financial inclusion, real progress happens when we collaborate across sectors, across generations, and across borders. The summit is a rare platform where that kind of collaboration is possible — where corporates meet creatives, social entrepreneurs meet investors, and policy makers hear from practitioners. We need more spaces like this, where we move from talk to tangible ideas and actions.

Why Brands Must Show Up
Africa’s consumers are evolving — they care about what brands stand for. They ask deeper questions: Who benefits from your success? What impact are you driving? The brands that stay relevant in this new landscape will be those that lead with authenticity, align with societal progress, and contribute meaningfully to their ecosystems. Participating in the Shared Value movement is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s a strategic imperative. This summit is a chance to listen, learn, co-create, and lead.

The Call
Africa doesn’t need saving. It needs building — by us, for us.
To every founder, brand manager, strategist, policymaker, and investor, let’s build a future where value is truly shared. Not just for optics. Not just for ESG checklists. But because it’s the most sustainable way forward

See you in Lagos, Nigeria!