Access Bank launches programme to boost eco-friendly initiatives

In its efforts to champion initiatives to advance access to credit for sustainable projects across Nigeria, Access Bank Plc has launched its Sustainable Finance Accelerator Programme.

The programme unveiled at the Access Towers in Oniru, Lagos, was designed to support corporates, MSMEs, and nano businesses focused on climate mitigation, adaptation, health care, and other social projects.

The Sustainable Finance Accelerator Programme is structured to nurture innovative ideas within the sustainable development sector by offering comprehensive training, mentorship, and essential resources. The program’s goal is to transform participants’ ideas into viable, impactful businesses that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Chizoma Okoli, said “In the face of mounting climate risks, social inequalities, and resource scarcity, the call for sustainable finance is louder than ever.

“The financial sector has a pivotal role to play in driving the transition to a low-carbon, inclusive economy. At Access Bank, our mission has evolved beyond conventional banking to embrace sustainability as a core business principle. We have recognised that sustainable finance is not a niche or a temporary trend – it is the future of finance itself,” he stated.

Also speaking, Executive Director of Risk Management of the Bank, Gregory Jobome,

emphasised the bank’s dedication to providing participants with capacity building, funding, and professional networking opportunities. “This journey is not just about Access Bank; it’s about all of us coming together, co-creating solutions, and scaling up sustainable initiatives across Nigeria and Africa,” he added

Minister of Finance’s Special Adviser on Climate Change, Temitope Akinyemi,

said While Africa contributes less than 3 per cent to global climate change, the effects are felt acutely across the continent, especially in Nigeria. Our low level of industrialisation has kept our emissions relatively low.