>
Access Bank Plc has just scored a rare repeat performance at the 2017Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards in Germany by receiving the“Outstanding Business Sustainability Achievement Award 2017”.
The award was presented to Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe in Karlsruhe,Germany’s most sustainable city a year after Access Bank made history asthe first African bank to receive this prestigious accolade.
The award was received barely a week after Nigeria’s foremost rating agency, Agusto & Coupgraded the Bank’s rating from A+ to AA-
The award conveners presented the accolade in recognition of Access Bank’soutstanding success in incorporating economic, social and environmentalaspects into its corporate strategy and business processes.
This prize alsobrings global recognition to the Bank’s impressive success in holisticallyembedding sustainability across all aspects of operations within the financialinstitution.
The award ceremony which held on July 13th, 2017, was attended by CEOs ofleading international financial institutions, senior executives of other winning institutions and top German government officials.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony Herbert Wigwe, Group ManagingDirector/CEO of the Bank said the award validates the Bank’s continuous efforts and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Since we were here last year to receive the 2016 “OutstandingBusiness Sustainability Achievement Award,” Access Bank has continued to champion responsible investing, innovative health initiatives, environmental protection and “nancial inclusion. We are doing this profitably. So, we continue to encourage other institutions to embrace the same principles and practices,” Wigwe said.
“At Access Bank, we believe our operations, loan and project finance musthave the barest environmental footprint. Indeed, we believe the net impact ofour activities must be positive on the environment. As such, we arechampions of climate change mitigation and adaptation” he added.
He assured that the Bank will be further motivated and maintain profitable growthwhile embracing sustainability.
The conveners said the 2017 awards focused on honouring organizations thathave made outstanding contributions in the field of sustainable finance,stimulated the interests of financial institutions and other stakeholders inintegrating sustainability in their core business strategy.
It also recognises candidates who promote growth of sustainable financialinstruments and markets worldwide particularly in the fields of green financeand investments, financial inclusion and social finance, green equity andholistic integration of sustainability in the financial services institutions.