Lagos, Nigeria – FirstBank has reinforced its position as Nigeria’s sustainability trailblazer, securing the Best Bank for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) award at the 2025 Euromoney Awards for Excellence in London. This marks the second consecutive year the bank has earned this prestigious global recognition.
Award-Winning Sustainability Initiatives
The bank’s ESG excellence stems from tangible, large-scale projects:
Climate Action
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Partnered with Nigeria Conservation Foundation to plant 30,000+ trees (target: 50,000 by 2025)
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Expected to offset 720 tonnes of CO₂ – equivalent to removing 156 fuel-powered cars from roads annually
Inclusive Finance
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Disbursed ₦43 billion to women entrepreneurs via FirstGem initiative
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Processed ₦9 trillion through FirstMonie agent network, expanding financial access
Responsible Banking
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Screened 237 transactions worth ₦3 trillion for ESG compliance
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Trained 9,000+ staff and 2,000+ SMEs on sustainable practices
Leadership Perspective
Patrick Akhidenor, Chief Risk Officer at FirstBank, stated:
“This recognition affirms our commitment to building a sustainable future. From climate resilience to gender inclusion, we’re creating measurable impact across Nigeria.”
Why This Matters
As Nigeria transitions to a green economy, FirstBank’s ESG leadership:
Sets industry benchmarks for sustainable finance
Aligns with Nigeria’s 2060 net-zero commitments
Demonstrates how profitability and purpose can coexist
With back-to-back Euromoney wins, FirstBank solidifies its vision as Africa’s most sustainable bank – proving that financial institutions can drive both economic growth and environmental progress.
Looking Ahead: The bank plans to expand its tree-planting initiative and launch new renewable energy financing programs in 2026.
Key Differentiators:
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Only Nigerian bank to win Euromoney’s ESG award twice
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Holistic approach spanning environment, social impact and governance
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Clear metrics demonstrating real-world impact
