Access Bank of Nigeria has set a new milestone among peers as the first bank to co-host the launching of the corporate green bond programme for corporate and sub-nationals like the states and private sectors.
The Tier 1 lender said the move reaffirms its commitment in investing in projects that are geared towards improving environmental sustainability.
Executive Director, Risk Management at Access Bank, Creg Jobome, said, “It is a lead that we have taken for many years. If you recall, at the Central Bank of Nigeria award for sustainability, we cleared all the four awards within the banking space; so it is no surprise.
“However, we will continue to add value, sustainable products, funding, and financing asset that will impact positively on the environment, clients, and on Nigeria, while still making money and giving good returns to our shareholders,” he said.
The corporate green bond programme is an initiative that was put forward through a combined partnership between FMDQ OTC Securities, Climate Bond Initiative and Financial Sector Deepening to develop green bonds in Nigeria.
In March this year, the trio signed a cooperation agreement to develop green bonds in Nigeria and foster the issuance of corporate/non-sovereign green bonds, and as part of efforts to understand the market, the corporate green bond programme was launched on Thursday this week.
Justine Leigh-Bell, Director of Market Development for CBI, said the firm had partnered with FMDQ because they are market organisers and infrastructure catalyst that have the local expertise to rally around all participants in the debt capital market.
