By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Dangote group of companies and the First Bank of Nigeria are taking lead in upholding the environment and reporting sustainability.
These environmental commitments are observed in most of their Corporate Social Responsibilities.
One of such recent CSR activity include the commitment by Dangote Cement Plc to protecting the earth through efforts aimed at mitigating environmental degradation.
Michel Puchercos, during the World Earth Day celebration, noted one sure way to address the problems of the environment is through the conversion and co-processing of waste as alternative fuel.
He remarked that poor waste management is a known environmental challenge on the continent and that “Dangote cement is addressing this problem through co-processing of various alternative fuels”.
He recalled that last year alone, the Cement Company co-processed 89,000 tonnes of wastes as an alternative fuel, in the form of biomass, scrap tyres, fly ash, spent oil and greases, just to mention a few.
Also, the Head, Alternative Fuel Project, Dangote Cement Plc, Peter Anagbe, said this year’s Earth Day offers Dangote Cement the opportunity among others to “demonstrate our contribution to sustainable waste management and the inclusion of local communities in our value chain through the Alternative Fuel (AF) Project. This is our response to the UN’s call to action to promote harmony with nature and mother earth.”
On the other hand, FirstBank has been described as Nigeria’s premier eco-friendly financial brand.
This was stated during Brand Communicator’s focus on Eco-Friendly Brands in the Nigerian market.
Because of the seriousness of climate change and the impact it poses to the environment, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has shown great commitment in ensuring an eco-friendly society.
Its recognition of the environmental and social impacts of its operations has made it adopt policies and procedures that minimize negative environmental and social impacts.
In doing business, the Bank, which is Nigeria’s first takes cognizance of potential environmental risks with a view to nipping them in the bud.
This it has done by constant interactions with stakeholders, driving sustainable insurance and putting necessary frameworks in place towards ensuring that its actions as a corporate entity does not impact negatively on the environment.
As such, the sustainability of the societies and physical environments in which the Bank operates are critical to its own sustainable success.
Because of the seriousness of climate change and the impact it poses to the environment, an organization like First Bank of Nigeria Limited is leaving nothing to chance in ensuring an eco-friendly society.
In minimising waste, the Bank works to improve energy efficiency in its data centres and offices as well as reduce air travels and implement safe paper use initiatives.
It also increased the use of conference calls for meetings as against attending physical meeting schedules thereby minimizing fuel consumption and carbon emission from vehicles.
Its ‘Going Green’ efforts have also seen the Bank purchase renewable energy; promote tree planting initiatives and the indirect impact of its activities focuses largely on responsible lending.
The Bank’s key objectives of minimizing carbon footprints through the planting of trees, creating awareness among school children of the need to preserve wildlife and biodiversity, developing and educating environmentally conscious students through partnerships with reputable NGOs and institutions, are huge.
These objectives and FirstBank’s responsible approach to protecting the environment has seen it partner with Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Nigeria’s premier non-governmental environment conservation foundation dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria.
Its on-going partnership with the NCF has seen it actively support annual activities promoting conservation and preservation of wildlife and biodiversity.
The FirstBank Conservation Initiative is part of long-term approach to promoting sustainability, which involves minimising direct and indirect impacts on the environment.
These FirstBank initiatives over the years and activities have shown that environmental sustainability remains a key corporate responsibility & sustainability focus for FirstBank.
