Access Bank Plc has called on the federal government to support banks investing in the sustainable environment through incentives and subsidies to help drive the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Chizoba Okoli, made the call while speaking at the Sustainability Conference themed “Creating World-Class Sustainable Banks through Sustainability Standards” which was held in Abuja.
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She said: “Through direct financial intervention such as subsidies or guarantees, as well as strengthening policies, institutional, media and regulatory frameworks, all these developments will further drive the SDGs’ progress.”
She said the bank is the first at that time and the only commercial bank in Africa to be sustainability certified.
“For us at Access Bank, our commitment to sustainability has yielded great benefits; we have made significant progress in embedding sustainability as a core of our business decisions, operations and practices, thereby impacting lives positively now and in the future,” she said.
She noted that the round table was particularly important at this period, when the Nigerian sustainable banking principles are undergoing a revisit by CBN.
“It is expected that by the end of this round table, there will be a further positive shift in the mind-set, strengthening collaborative approach to addressing sustainability challenges and prompt action in bridging the gaps that exist in our organization with respect to other sustainability agenda and that this will be truly transformational and highly impactful,” she said.