Menu

Acceptance Speech By Mr. Herbert Wigwe, GMD/CEO of  Access Bank Plc, on Access Bank Winning The “Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement Award” of The Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards on July 14th, 2016.

I would like to specially recognise the Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Germany, Kenneth Okeh; the Ambassador of Pakistan; and other heads of foreign missions here present. A hearty congratulations to the Mayor of Karlsruhe, Dr. Frank Mentrup; and the Deputy Minister-President of the State of Baden-Württemberg, Germany on the occasion of The Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards 2016. I have a distinct impression that the Awards are well-appointed for this green city, which recently was adjudged the Most Sustainable City in Germany.
    
I would also like to recognise the leadership of Arshad Rab, CEO of the European Organisation for Sustainable Development, organisers of the Global Sustainable Finance Conference. Together with his team, he has worked tirelessly for a memorable and professional GSFC 2016, as well as this Awards ceremony.

Access Bank recognises the dedication of the local organising partner for the GSFC 2016, Financial Nigeria International, led by the Managing Editor and CEO, Jide Akintunde. I also like to recognise all the participants from Nigeria, as well as other Award winners, nominees and delegates from 35 of the world's financial markets.

Winning the Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement Award is a validation of Access Bank's commitment, leadership and practice in Sustainability. For this, I would like to thank the Board, Management and Staff of the Bank.

Access Bank cares deeply about the triple bottom line. We want a high social return to the communities where we do business, across Nigeria, six other Sub Saharan African countries, the United Kingdom and the world at large. Our commitment to a more sustainable global market has seen us supporting global initiatives to deliver social common good.

At Access Bank, we believe our operation, loan and project finance must have the barest environmental footprint. Indeed, we believe the net impact of our activities must be positive on the environment. As such, we are champions of climate change mitigation and adaptation. We are financing green projects. And we practice resource conservation.

Access Bank is one of the biggest banks in Nigeria. Considering that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, and that the Bank has operations in seven African frontier economies, Access Bank is one of the largest African banks. As you would know, size is important. But I will also like to emphasise that Access Bank Plc is one of the most profitable African banks.

Our model affirms that financial institutions can be profitable by embracing sustainability. Indeed, it is in the area of global best practices in Sustainability that Access Bank has defined its leadership. We want to be The Most Respected African Bank by empowering society; making the environment supportive of future prosperity and the ecosystem; and we have imbued strategies that foster these principles into our long-term profitability and respectability.

I believe winning this Award will further motivate us. We will continue to challenge ourselves as leaders and as an institution to continue to exact positive influence on our industry and the economy. We are well recognised as the leader in financial access and empowerment of women, as well as in interventions in health, education and humanitarian assistance. Access Bank was very instrumental to the enactment of the Nigerian Sustainable Banking principles of the Central Bank of Nigeria. We are appreciative of the regulatory insight of the Nigerian Central Bank in embedding sustainability in Nigerian banking regulation.

Once again, I would like to thank the organisers of this great event and the Global Sustainable Finance Conference. Access Bank will move forward with you as we continue to play our responsible leadership roles in fostering the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

Thank you.