By Izuchukwu Mayor, Lagos
Access Bank Plc, yesterday, reaffirmed its leadership in sustainable finance by participating in the launch of the Climate Governance Initiative Nigeria (CGIN) Chapter at the Lagos Business School (LBS).
According to the bank’s statement, the CGIN launch, hosted by the LBS, is part of the World Economic Forum’s global effort to promote climate-conscious corporate governance.
The event was said to have convened board members, C-suite executives, regulators, and sustainability experts to improve climate governance and corporate responsibility in tackling climate change.
The Executive Director, Risk Management at Access Bank, Dr Greg Jobome, was quoted as outlining how the bank integrates climate risk considerations into governance, operations, and financial decision-making processes.
Acknowledging the bank’s leadership in embedding sustainability in its operations Mr. Jobome described climate change as a key concern at both board and executive levels, supported by policies and systems to track and manage its impact.
Access Bank also said it has implemented climate-focused initiatives to align with global emissions standards and reduce its environmental footprint.
According to the bank, it has deployed over 974 solar-powered ATMs and cut paper use by more than 72% via process automation.
At its headquarters, landfill waste has been reduced by 50% through comprehensive recycling programmes.
We recognised early that climate risk is financial risk. We chose to act before regulation demanded it. That proactive step has strengthened our resilience and opened new paths for growth.
Mr. Jobome noted that climate concerns influence credit approvals, capital planning, and the development of green financial products.
He highlighted offerings like Switch to Solar, Solar for Health, and mini-grid solutions, aimed at supporting low-carbon and sustainable energy transitions.
Access Bank has also issued Green and Sustainability Bonds and is Africa’s first commercial bank certified by the Sustainability Standards and Certification Initiative.
Mr. Jobome said: “Access Bank’s climate risk journey demonstrates our long-standing commitment to sustainability.
“We recognised early that climate risk is financial risk. We chose to act before regulation demanded it. That proactive step has strengthened our resilience and opened new paths for growth.”
Access Bank operates across 24 countries, serving over 60 million customers, including 18.5 million digital users through more than 800 physical branches.
The bank holds a capital adequacy ratio of 20.46% and maintains an international presence with offices in Paris and subsidiaries in Angola.
