Business
FirstBank Partners Proparco on Climate Performance
First Bank of Nigeria Limited, in partnership with Proparco, a Development Finance Institution is mainstreaming climate initiatives into its business operations and strategy. This is aimed at achieving a holistic integration of climate action on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction through an articulated strategic pathway to position the Bank as an African Climate Bank.
The 130-year-old financial institution is currently implementing a mechanism to calculate its operational emissions across all its branches and offices. This includes calculating data on electricity use, diesel use, water consumption, waste management approach, fuel consumption, business travels, etcetera to determine the Bank’s emission baseline and innovative opportunities for operational emissions reduction. FirstBank is developing the required capabilities and competencies by investing in its employees and the right infrastructure for integrating climate action in the Bank.
In a two-day partnership strategy workshop sessions with IPC and Valoris, consultants from Austria engaged by Proparco in the climate mainstreaming project, FirstBank’s climate journey across all areas of implementation was reviewed to determine progress and empower strategic departments across the Bank’s operations, including: the Credit Risk teams; Human Capital Management & Development (HCMD); FirstAcademy, the Bank’s learning institute; Corporate Banking; Personal Banking; SME Banking; Procurement; Branch Operations and General Services teams to deepen the understanding of climate risks in their processes.
The six workstreams for the implementation include: Identification of financed and avoided emissions to support reporting; supporting the measurement and analysis of operating emissions; integration of physical climate risk assessment; opportunity analysis; climate strategy and policy development; capacity building amongst staff to support strategy implementation.
Dr Martin Steindl, Managing Director, Valoris, Austria, said, “Amongst our various engagements with financial institutions on climate mainstreaming, FirstBank is the only organization that has been able to provide data both on the assets’ location of their portfolio and head offices of their clients. I am impressed with the progress we have collectively achieved.”
Reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to mainstreaming climate initiatives, the Ag. Chief Risk Officer, FirstBank, Patrick Akhidenor said ‘’FirstBank is intentional about redefining its climate footprint. We are identifying opportunities in climate finance to improve our portfolio and reduce the carbon emissions associated with our processes and operations. The Bank is executing a financed emissions calculation mechanism as well as creating climate finance opportunities, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency products for our customers.”
Nigeria has committed to reducing its GHG emissions to 20 percent by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2060. While this is ambitious, it sets the tone for businesses in Nigeria to at least support their GHG emissions reduction strategy with national plans and target. FirstBank is committed to achieving this goal and this is evident as the bank is a signatory to the Africa Business Leaders’ Climate Statement released in 2022 at COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt by the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC).
Access Bank Plc has responded to the reports making the rounds on social media concerning a former contact agent, who was alleged to have violated the privacy of some women in the organisation.
In a statement the management made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the bank said the matter has been handed over to the appropriate authorities for investigation while cautioning the general public to rely on updates communicated through their channels only.
The statement reads in full:
Our attention has been drawn to reports circulating on social media regarding an alleged offence involving a former Contact Centre Agent.
The matter has been handed over to the appropriate authorities, who are conducting an investigation.
We are fully cooperating with them in this process.
At Access Bank, we uphold a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and any form of privacy violation.
We are also actively engaging with the affected employees to provide all necessary support.
The safety, dignity, and well-being of our employees and customers remain our highest priority.
We appreciate the concern and support of the public and our stakeholders.
For accurate information, we encourage everyone to rely only on updates communicated through our official channels.
MANAGEMENT
Moruf Oseni, managing director/CEO, Wema Bank, says the lender is committed to continued service and value delivery to Nigerians beyond its 80th anniversary.
Wema Bank, one of Nigeria’s oldest indigenous institutions, is set to mark 80th anniversary on May 2, 2025.
Founded on May 2nd, 1945, as Agbonmagbe Bank Limited by Late Matthew Adekoya Okupe, and two others, the bank was established to bridge the gap in access to financial services for indigenous Nigerians during the colonial era.
Over the years, Wema Bank has built a legacy of impact, empowering Nigerians with quality financial services tailored to their needs and supporting the Fintech industry to innovate to remain valuable to customers and stakeholders.
Oseni, speaking on the journey of the bank so far, expressed commitment to continued delivery of optimum value to stakeholders beyond the anniversary.
According to him, Wema Bank’s founding principle of empowerment and its creed to “be with you all the way” speak to resilience, timelessness, and perpetuity.
“At Wema Bank, we have our creed, which is to be with you all the way. Anything that has the creed to be with you all the way simply means it is something that is built to last. Wema Bank rose against all odds in colonial Nigeria to cater to indigenous Nigerians and succeeded.
“Today, we are not just Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank but also Nigeria’s leading innovative bank, a testament to how committed we are to reinventing and adapting to provide value. On this, we will never relent,” Oseni noted.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit price in Abuja.
Some motorists in Abuja confirmed the new fuel price adjustment at some NNPC retail outlets.
Reports quoted Abdullahi Hashim, a resident of Kubwa, Abuja, to have said: “I observed the drop in the fuel price to N935 per litre on Saturday morning. It is a welcome development.”
“I think I first saw this new price adjustment in Town, Wuse Zone 4 area, on Friday. NNPC filling station at Kubwa Expressway is just reflecting it,” Bukola Adewole also said.
The development comes after Dangote Refinery announced in its ex-depot petrol price to N835 per litre from N865.
The 650,000 barrels per day refinery had announced that its partners, such as MRS and AP filling stations, are expected to sell petrol between N890 and N920 per litre, depending on the location.
Meanwhile, MRS filling stations in Abuja have not been dispensing petrol since Wednesday, April 16, 2025, when Dangote Refinery announced a slash in ex-depot petrol price.
