About Us
Since commencing operations in 2021, Sage Grey Finance has led the way in impact financing, driving improvements in both environmental and social outcomes.
In 2024, we strengthened our commitment to sustainable development by aligning with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and developing our Impact Financing Framework. We integrate measurable environmental, social and governance criteria into all our lending, operations and investments, directly linking financial success to positive societal impact.
This approach also drives financial inclusion, socio-economic growth, and long-term sustainability in Nigeria, while generating strong returns for our stakeholders.
#AdvancingImpact is an event to celebrate Sage Grey Finance’s achievements, amplify our commitment to sustainable development, outline the future of impact financing in Nigeria and unveil the company’s next phase of impact-focused financial solutions. This event will include a series of activities, with the main event taking place on the 15th of May 2025 at Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Victoria island.
Why Impact Finance
Impact Financing in Nigeria
Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where economic growth must be inclusive, sustainable and resilient. While traditional finance has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s development, it often falls short in addressing the deeper, structural challenges that hinder widespread development. Impact Financing therefore, offers a transformative approach that intentionally directs capital toward projects and enterprises that generate measurable social and environmental impact alongside financial returns.
Impact financing emerged as a response to the shortcomings of traditional financial systems in addressing social and environmental issues.
This approach gained momentum after the 2008 global financial crisis which is now a rapidly growing segment of global markets, with over $1 trillion in impact investing assets under management estimated by with the Global Impact Investing Network. This shows the growing awareness that capital should not only generate financial returns but also produce positive societal outcomes.
Impact financing prioritizes measurable social and environmental outcomes alongside financial returns. It integrates social metrics such as job creation, gender parity and community health into investment decision-making unlike traditional financing. which often overlooks social and environmental costs.
Impact financing recognizes the limitations of government funding and traditional philanthropy in tackling complex global challenges. It aligns with principles such as the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), transparency and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards. These principles ensure measurable outcomes and rigorous impact assessments, guiding both international and local organizations to invest in solutions to poverty, inequality, climate change and environmental degradation
Nigeria faces a multitude of significant challenges such as youth unemployment, gender inequality, environmental degradation and poverty. These issues demand more than charity or corporate social responsibility; they demand investments that are strategically aligned with development goals and capable of creating long-term, systemic change.
Impact Financing unlocks funding for innovative solutions in key sectors such as clean energy, health and education. In Nigeria, it offers a crucial opportunity by engaging the private sector in nation-building, promoting inclusive growth and addressing poverty and environmental challenges, ultimately advancing progress toward the SDGs.
OUR 3 CONVICTIONS
- There cannot be sustainable commercial viability without the accommodation of impact.
- Impact and financial returns are not mutually exclusive.
- The greater the impact achieved, the higher the potential for commercial returns
Our Conviction & Problems Identified
OUR 3 CONVICTIONS CHALLENGES FACED WITH TRADITIONAL FINANCING
- Limited Access to Affordable Capital
- Risk Perception and Lack of Understanding
- Mismatch Between Financing Products and Business Needs
- Limited Financial Literacy and Advisory Support
- Neglect of Socially Valuable Sectors
- Exclusion of Women, Youth, and Rural Entrepreneurs
- Lack of incentives for sustainable investment
- High Interest Rates and Rigid Terms
- Short-Term Profit Orientation
OUR SOLUTION
Our Impact Finance strategy is built around three key goals:
- Promoting Sustainable Development - We drive investments that address environmental and social challenges through initiatives in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and conservation.
- Social Empowerment - We empower individuals and communities, particularly focusing on SMEs, youth, and women, through education, entrepreneurship and capacity-building initiatives.
- Financial Inclusion - We expand access to affordable financial services for underserved populations, helping them build assets, manage risks, and improve financial well-being.
Establishing clear objectives aligned with SDGs
Embedding impact assessment into decision-making processes
Continuously refining our methodologies
Communicating progress through transparent reporting
OUR FOCUS AREAS
Our investments target key sectors aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, including
Renewable & Clean Energy
Recycling & Manufacturing
Women & Youth Empowerment
Affordable Housing
Healthcare
Technology Innovation
IMPACT ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
Our framework is underpinned by four core principles:
- Commitment to all 17 UN SDGs with a focus on specific targets
- Transparency in operations and reporting
- Accountability to stakeholders
- Inclusivity in financial access
- Sustainability as our foundation
OUR IMPACT SOLUTIONS
In direct response to the identified limitations within the traditional financial landscape, Sage Grey Finance is moving beyond rhetoric to implement tangible solutions. We are deploying targeted financial products designed to channel capital towards underserved areas and generate measurable positive impact. These instruments, which will be formally launched at our upcoming event, represent our active commitment to addressing Nigeria’s developmental needs:
1. WOMEN & YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Recognizing the critical role of women and young people in driving economic progress, this product offers a unique blend of grant funding and tailored debt financing. It specifically supports projects and enterprises led by or significantly benefiting these demographics, tackling barriers to financial inclusion and fostering entrepreneurial potential often overlooked by conventional financiers.
2. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
This product targets investments in projects aimed at tangible improvements in local communities. Focusing on areas such as essential infrastructure (e.g., clean water, renewable energy access), social services (e.g., education, healthcare enhancements), and environmental sustainability, this initiative provides flexible grant funding and tailored capacity building support to ventures prioritizing community well-being and resilience, often deemed too complex or insufficiently profitable by traditional standards.
3. SME IMPACT FINANCING FACILITY
Directly addressing the crucial ‘missing middle’ and access gaps, this facility provides accessible and appropriately structured finance and business support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Our focus extends beyond purely financial metrics to support businesses demonstrating strong potential for job creation, innovation, and positive contributions to their communities, utilizing assessment criteria fit for purpose.
INVESTMENTS
FREEE Recycle Limited
FREEE Recycle Limited (freee-recyle.com) is a waste recycling and rubber manufacturing company that specializes in the transformation of waste products such as tyres, PET bottles, and steel into reusable, eco-friendly products applicable in residential and commercial settings such as playgrounds, offices, rooms, sports and event centers, warehouses, manufacturing floors, car parks. FREEE Recycle Limited operates a five (5) acre state-of-the-art Tyre Recycling, Rubber Mat making and Tile Manufacturing facility on Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway, Apata Ibadan, Oyo State.
Sage Grey Finance Limited provided debt financing, equity and continued business and strategy support to FREEE Recycle Limited.
Impact of our Investment
150+ full-time employees in the past four years
250+ direct and indirect agents
Support for Payment of Wages of over N720 million ($1.8 million) in the past four years
Over 2,250 malaria mortalities prevented
Over 2,500,000 malaria cases prevented
Establishment of a Vocational Centre
Vocational training and skills acquisition for over 600 participants
Provision of flooring solutions to over 200 schools impacting over 100,000 schoolchildren across Nigeria
Provision of safe flooring for public spaces and public schools
Partnered with Maersk to provide flooring for Apapa Terminal, Lagos
12 SDGs Achieved
Provision of 1,200 school bags for school children through Balaah Hope Foundation
Partnered with Access Bank to provide over 4,000 footwear to school children
INVESTMENTS
Sage Grey Technologies Limited
Impact of our Investment
Direct employment of over 25 full-staff in the last three years
Support for payment of wages amounting to over N252 million Naira ($630,000).
Support in the establishment of a state-of-the-art 100+capacity Customer Support Centre
INVESTMENTS
Splitmulti
Splitmulti (splitmulti.com) is an escrow aggregation software which enables e-commerce platforms to provide wholesale discounts to aggregated retail customers; with a timed reversal for incomplete transactions.
- Increase in revenue by over 300%
- Over 10,000 customers reached monthly
- Increase in Sales X5
- Up to 50% discount for customers
INVESTMENTS
Adzplug
Adzplug (adzplug.com) is a streaming platform that links content providers/advertisers to user owned street level digital outdoor display units.
- 10x wider reach for content across the network
- Access to a nationwide network of over 5,000 Display units
- Targeted Content to select locations
INVESTMENTS
INVESTMENTS
Proxze
Proxze (proxze.com) is an interface that links service providers (Skilled & Unskilled proxies) to Service consumers while providing a video of the service (live or recorded) based on predefined terms for services such as KYCs, News correspondence, etc.
- Access to a network of over 10,000 skilled and unskilled proxies
- Guaranteed monthly income of over N300k for Proxies
INVESTMENTS
Impact of our Investment
Creation of over 5,000 jobs in Nigeria
Production of over 123,000MT of Liquified Petroleum Gas
SPL Utorogu Limited
Contribution of 10% of annual nationwide gas consumption
Creation of over 5,000 ancillary businesses
LENDING
We understand the vital importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the health and growth of our economy. SMEs are the backbone of our local communities, driving innovation, creating jobs, and fueling economic prosperity. As such, we have made a concerted effort to prioritize lending and support to SMEs, with a particular focus on businesses owned and led by women and youth. We recognize the unique challenges and opportunities these entrepreneurs face, and we are committed to being a strategic partner in their success. We offer a robust suite of SME-tailored financial products and services including SME Overdraft Facility, SME Term Loans, and Free Internet Banking among others.
One shining example of the many SME success stories we have had the privilege to support is Mosept Enterprises. This woman-led small business has leveraged our SME banking solutions to expand its operations, upgrade its facilities, and ultimately increase its positive impact on the local community. We are proud to highlight Mosept as a testament to the growth and prosperity SMEs can achieve with the right financial partner.
INVESTMENTS
Mosept Enterprises
Impact of our Investment
Access to capital of over N40 million Naira
Over 2,500% increase in revenue
Daily sales revenue of over N1 million Naira
Expansion of Business to a larger store
