Access Bank has highlighted its leadership in sustainable finance at the official launch of the Climate Governance Initiative Nigeria Chapter, held at Lagos Business School.
According to a statement, the bank said that it was represented by Executive Director of Risk Management, Dr Greg Jobome, who was spotlighted for its pioneering efforts in embedding climate risk into corporate governance and financial strategy.
The Climate Governance Initiative Nigeria Chapter was formally launched by Lagos Business School as part of the World Economic Forum’s global network to promote climate-conscious decision-making in corporate boardrooms. The event brought together board members, C-suite executives, regulators, and sustainability experts to strengthen climate governance and drive corporate responsibility in addressing climate change.
Speaking to an audience of corporate leaders, regulators, and sustainability experts, Jobome detailed how Access Bank has proactively integrated environmental considerations into decision-making processes.
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.
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.
“Access Bank’s climate risk journey reflects a long-standing commitment to building a sustainable institution. We recognised early that climate risk is financial risk. We did not wait for regulation; instead, we acted proactively. That decision has made our institution more resilient and positioned us to unlock new growth opportunities,” Jobome said.
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 per cent 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; the adoption of the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials model for financed emissions; and the application of global reporting frameworks such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and the recently launched International Financial Reporting Standard S1 and S2 standards.
