Access Bank PLC has once again demonstrated its
leadership in sustainable finance with a strong showing at the launch of the Climate
Governance Initiative Nigeria (CGIN) Chapter, hosted by Lagos Business School.
Dr. Greg Jobome, Executive Director, Risk Management at Access Bank, was specially
invited to speak at the event in recognition of the Bank’s pioneering role in integrating
sustainability into its business model and its inspiring leadership within Nigeria’s
corporate landscape.
In his presentation, Jobome provided a comprehensive overview of how Access Bank
has embedded climate risk considerations across its governance structure, operations,
and financial decision-making processes. He noted that climate change is a standing
agenda item at both Board and Executive Management levels, with dedicated policies
and systems in place to monitor and manage its impact.
Access Bank operates in 24 countries and serves over 60 million customers, with more
than 18.5 million digital banking users and over 800 branches. The Bank has a capital
adequacy ratio of 20.46% for its banking group and maintains a broad international
footprint, including branches in Paris and subsidiaries in Angola.
The Bank has implemented a range of climate-focused initiatives including the
measurement and reporting of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, adoption of the
Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) model for financed emissions,
and application of global reporting frameworks such as Task Force on Climate-related
Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the recently launched International Financial
Reporting Standard (IFRS) S1 and S2 standards.
To date, Access Bank has installed over 974 solar-powered ATMs, reduced paper
usage by more than 72% through process automation, and achieved a 50% reduction
in landfill waste at its headquarters through comprehensive recycling initiatives. Its
Sustainable Finance Accelerator programme has supported numerous businesses in
the climate space, providing funding, capacity building, and technical assistance. The
bank has also reached over 63 million lives through social investments.
Dr. Jobome stated that climate considerations are integrated into credit approvals,
capital expenditure planning, and the development of green financial products. These
include offerings like Switch to Solar, Solar for Health, and mini-grid solutions targeted
at supporting energy transition and low-carbon growth.
