Access Bank signs resolution on Agenda 2030, wins global sustainable finance award

17 Jul 2017
Financial Nigeria

Summary

The signing of the resolution by Access Bank demonstrated its commitment to being one of the most sustainable banks in Africa.

Access Bank's CEO, Herbert Wigwe, delivering keynote address at the Global Sustainable Finance Conference 2017, in Karlsruhe, Germany

Delegates representing financial institutions from around the world have signed the “Karlsruhe Resolution.” The resolution is a declaration of institutional support for the U.N.-backed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement (COP21), collectively referred to as “Agenda 2030.”

The signing ceremony took place on the 13th of July, 2017, at the City Hall, Karlsruhe, Germany. The event was part of the programme of the 7th Global Sustainable Finance Conference and the Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards 2017.

Access Bank signed with other institutions including YES Bank of India, Development Bank of Philippines, Bank of Ghana (the central bank of the country), amongst dozens others. The Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, Dr. Frank Mentrup, who is the Chairman of the Technology Region of Karlsruhe and Chairman of the Board of Sparkasse Karlsruhe (the local savings bank),  also signed the resolution as a witness.

The resolution stresses the important role of the financial services industry in achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2030 such as, among others, financing and investing in the implementation of the SDGs and COP21 projects in their respective countries, calling on governments and regulatory institutions to create policy frameworks that promote investments in innovation that will contribute in creating a green, inclusive and sustainable economy and calling for a collective global action to ensure a level-playing field for all financial sector players.

The signing of the resolution by Access Bank demonstrated its commitment to being one of the most sustainable banks in Africa and playing a pivotal role in the transformation of the economies of the continent.



From Left: Lord Mayor of the City Karlsruhe, Frank Mentrup; Access Bank's Executive Director, Gregory Ovie Jobome; Access Bank's Head of Sustainability, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan; CEO, European Organisation for Sustainable Development, Arshad Rab pose with the award of "Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement Award 2017, won by Access Bank


Access Bank won the “Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement Award” at the event. After becoming the first African bank to win the global award in 2016, Access Bank retained the much-coveted award this year. The awards aim at honouring financial institutions that have made outstanding contributions in the field of sustainable finance.

Arshad Rab, CEO of European Organisation for Sustainable Development – organisers of the conference and awards – commended Access Bank’s CEO,
Herbert Wigwe, for his leadership in steering Access Bank towards sustainability.

“This is a superb recognition, not only for the top leadership of Access Bank, but also for the entire management team, the staff members, the customers, the shareholders and the African community-at-large” said Rab on the occasion of the awards ceremony. “Mr. Wigwe, you are not only leading on sustainability agenda of your bank but setting new standards for financial institutions in the whole of Africa.”


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