LAGOS, Nigeria: P+ Measurement Services has published its Q2 2026 CSR & ESG Media Visibility Report, revealing how organisations in Nigeria’s banking, telecommunications and insurance industries leveraged corporate social responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) communication to strengthen reputation and public confidence between April and June 2026.

The independent media intelligence consultancy said the report presents an audited assessment of CSR and ESG media visibility across three major sectors, examining how brands communicated purpose-driven initiatives during the second quarter of the year.

According to the report, analysts monitored media coverage involving 29 commercial banks, four telecommunications operators and 13 insurance companies, drawing data from approximately 1,809 print publications, including daily, weekly and monthly newspapers, alongside online media platforms.

Metadata collected from the monitored coverage was analysed across key competitive indicators, with CSR- and ESG-related mentions separated from each brand’s overall media presence to produce sector-by-sector Share of Voice comparisons.

The report found that although ESG expectations continue to influence stakeholders, CSR communication remains concentrated among relatively few organisations. Out of the 46 brands monitored across the three industries, only 12 organisations—comprising five banks, three telecom operators and four insurance companies—generated measurable CSR and ESG media visibility during the quarter.

Fidelity Bank tops banking sector

Among financial institutions, the banking sector recorded the largest volume of CSR media exposure across all industries reviewed. However, despite the presence of 29 monitored banks, only five institutions achieved measurable CSR and ESG visibility.

Fidelity Bank emerged as the sector leader with a 34% Share of Voice, followed by Keystone Bank (21%), Polaris Bank (17%), United Bank for Africa (UBA) (14%), and Union Bank (14%).

The report noted that Fidelity Bank maintained consistent visibility through a series of CSR initiatives that included prison welfare support, food bank outreach programmes, orphanage funding and donations to childcare homes throughout the quarter.

Polaris Bank focused on education and financial literacy by investing in school infrastructure and youth empowerment programmes, while UBA strengthened its sustainability profile through entrepreneurship initiatives and its Pan-African environmental clean-up campaign. Union Bank distinguished itself through its employee-driven UnionCares volunteering programme.

P+ Measurement observed that continuous community engagement rather than isolated interventions increasingly serves as a valuable reputation asset within Nigeria’s banking industry. Fidelity Bank finished 13 percentage points ahead of its nearest competitor, Keystone Bank.

Airtel Nigeria leads telecom CSR conversation

The telecommunications industry recorded the highest participation level among the three sectors, with three of Nigeria’s four licensed operators actively promoting CSR initiatives during Q2 2026.

Airtel Nigeria secured the top position with a 51% Share of Voice, narrowly outperforming MTN Nigeria, which recorded 46%, while Globacom accounted for 3%.

Combined, Airtel and MTN represented 97% Visibility Concentration, making CSR and ESG communication in the telecommunications sector largely dominated by the two companies.

According to the report, Airtel Nigeria maintained visibility through its Empower Her financial inclusion initiative and the Green Schools Initiative, reflecting ongoing investments in women’s economic empowerment and sustainability education.

MTN Nigeria reinforced its social impact positioning through the redevelopment of Obalende Park and the launch of its annual 25 Days of Y’elloCare campaign, which this year focused on equitable healthcare access.

Globacom’s contribution to CSR media visibility centred on a maternal healthcare intervention implemented through the Glo Foundation to commemorate the Chairman’s birthday.

The report concluded that CSR has become an important competitive differentiator within Nigeria’s telecom industry, where education, healthcare, financial inclusion and environmental sustainability continue to shape public perception.

Leadway Assurance dominates insurance sector

Although the insurance industry generated fewer CSR-related stories than banking and telecommunications, four of the 13 monitored insurers achieved measurable media visibility.

Leadway Assurance recorded the strongest performance with a 53% Share of Voice, exceeding the combined visibility of AIICO Insurance (19%), Consolidated Hallmark Insurance (19%), and Prudential Zenith Life Insurance (9%).

The report identified this 34 percentage-point Competitive Distance as the widest reputation lead recorded across all sectors reviewed.

Leadway’s performance was driven by the fourth edition of its Pages to Places literacy initiative, reinforcing its sustained investment in youth education.

AIICO Insurance concentrated on educational infrastructure and capacity development, while Prudential Zenith Life Insurance advanced disability inclusion through renovation projects benefiting a school for children with disabilities.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance combined insurance awareness campaigns with stakeholder engagement by renewing insurance cover for practising journalists.

P+ Measurement concluded that education has become the insurance industry’s preferred platform for strengthening trust, noting that organisations demonstrating long-term societal impact achieved stronger reputational outcomes than those relying solely on product promotion.

Purpose-driven communication gaining strategic importance

Across the three industries, the report found that organisations achieving the highest CSR and ESG visibility were not necessarily those executing the largest number of initiatives, but those consistently delivering authentic interventions addressing education, healthcare, financial inclusion, environmental sustainability and community development.

The report also highlighted a significant gap between participation and impact, noting that only 12 of the 46 monitored brands achieved measurable CSR and ESG media visibility during the quarter, leaving 34 organisations with opportunities to strengthen reputation through purpose-led communication.

Analyst commentary

Commenting on the report, Tumininu Balogun, Senior Analyst at P+ Measurement Services, said:

“The organisations leading CSR conversations today are those making purpose visible through consistent action rather than occasional campaigns. Our analysis shows that meaningful community investment creates stronger media narratives, deeper stakeholder trust and more resilient corporate reputations.”

She added:

“CSR has evolved beyond philanthropy. It has become a strategic communication pillar that shapes how brands are perceived by customers, regulators, investors and the wider public. The brands creating lasting impact are those aligning business objectives with measurable social value.”

Speaking on the organisation’s role within the communications industry, Balogun said:

“We have been at the forefront of media intelligence in Nigeria for over a decade, and our commitment to the PR and communications industry is to keep media data and insight readily available so that PR and communications professionals can make data-driven decisions — not assumptions.”

Methodology

P+ Measurement analysts tracked CSR and ESG-related print and online media coverage involving 29 commercial banks, four telecommunications operators and 13 insurance companies between April and June 2026 (Q2 2026).

The assessment covered approximately 1,809 print publications alongside monitored online media. Analysts coded and audited the coverage, isolating CSR and ESG references from each brand’s broader media footprint to calculate sector-specific Share of Voice.

Banking and insurance rankings reflected the leading brands by coverage volume within their respective sectors, while all four telecommunications operators were included in the analysis.

About P+ Measurement Services

P+ Measurement Services is an independent media intelligence and reputation audit consultancy in Nigeria and a member of the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC).

The organisation supports communications professionals, public relations managers and PR firms by providing independent media monitoring, reputation auditing and data-driven performance insights.

Source: Star Connect Media