Africa’s leading financial
institution, Access Bank, has emerged winner of the 2019Karlsruhe Sustainable
Finance Awards for “Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement” for the 4th
consecutive time. The award was received in recognition of the Bank’s
unwavering commitment towards embedding social, environmental and economic
sustainability into its core business strategy that helps address issues across
its business operations and value chain.
The prestigious award was presented to
the Bank’s GMD/CEO, Herbert Wigwe at the award ceremony which took place on
July 11th,2019 at the City Hall of Karlsruhe, Germany and was
attended by C-level executives, CEOs of leading global financial institutions, top
German government officials, policy makers, regulators and key sustainability
stakeholders.
The Global Sustainable Finance Awards
in Karlsruhe honour financial institutions and related organizations and
Presidents/ CEOs with significant contributions to the field of sustainable
banking and finance. The awards also aim to promote the growth of sustainable
financial instruments and markets worldwide, particularly in the fields of green
finance and investments, financial inclusion and social finance, green equity
and venture capital as well as the holistic integration of sustainability in
financial institutions.
Wigwe stated that “the global finance
sector plays a major role in the economy, as they provide huge amounts of
capital and have the ability to influence other companies and customers across
sectors through their products and services. Many banks are now placing a great
deal of emphasis on driving sustainability as well as digitizing core business
processes and reassessing organizational structures to be better prepared for
the future of banking. This transformation illustrates the increasing desire to
become a sustainable anddigital bank.”
“Access Bank has a corporate strategy
and philosophy which places sustainability at its core. Together with our
commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Access Bank
recently launched a five-year tenured, fixed rate green bond worth N15 Billion
which is the 1st Climate Bonds Initiative Certified corporate green bond in
Africa”, he said.
Access Bank remains committed to
setting standards for sustainable business practices, adopting innovative
solutions to build a future that is desirable, as it becomes the World’s most
respected African bank. The Bank continues to make positive contributions to
people and planet, in effect paving the way for its own longevity and continued
profitability, making the case for sustainability to businesses everywhere.