Access Bank Nigeria Plc has revealed that it spent the sum of N9.34billion on Corporate Social Responsibility, in a bid to live up to its role as a responsible corporate citizen.
This is according to a recent report by the bank tagged “Access Bank Plc – 2019 Sustainability Report,” made available on the Nigerian Stock Exchange platform.
Souirces gathered from the report that a large focus of the bank’s CSR efforts has been on health and education, which is evident from its numerous initiatives, such as the Adopt-A-School Programme, project L.E.A.D amongst others.
- The report stated that the bank carried out over 2,500 HIV tests during the 2019 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
- In addition, it also provided improved access to healthcare for over 90,000 beneficiaries through its partnership with Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation.
- Furthermore, the report emphasized that the Bank had made further investments in alternative energy, bringing the total number of its solar-powered ATMs to 605.
- The bank also reduced its carbon footprint through the implementation of more environmentally-focused initiatives, including the expansion of its waste recycling initiative, through which it achieved a 5.5% increase in the amount of waste recycled.
- To improve its waste management system, it launched a Paper to Pencil recycling initiative to convert Access and Diamond Bank’s branded paper waste to pencils for schools.
- The bank noted that the use of alternative energy sources across most of its branches led to a 33.6% reduction in electricity consumption for 2019.
- Access Bank Nigeria Plc was ranked as the 2019 overall best company in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability in Nigeria by Forbes Africa.
- To demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, the bank in 2019 issued a N15 billion green bond, the first-ever corporate green bond in Africa to be ‘Climate Bonds Certified.’
