Dr. Greg Jobome, Executive Director, Risk Management at Access Bank, was
specially invited to speak at the event in recognition of the Bank’s
pioneering role in integrating sustainability into its business model
and its inspiring leadership within Nigeria’s corporate landscape.
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.
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% 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,
adoption of the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)
model for financed emissions, and application of global reporting
frameworks such as Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
(TCFD) and the recently launched International Financial Reporting
Standard (IFRS) S1 and S2 standards.
To date, Access Bank has installed over 974 solar-powered ATMs, reduced
paper usage by more than 72% through process automation, and achieved a
50% reduction in landfill waste at its headquarters through
comprehensive recycling initiatives. Its Sustainable Finance Accelerator
programme has supported numerous businesses in the climate space,
providing funding, capacity building, and technical assistance. The bank
has also reached over 63 million lives through social investments.
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 has also issued Green and Sustainability Bonds and is the
first commercial bank in Africa to be certified by the Sustainability
Standards and Certification Initiative. Over the years, the Bank has
received several recognitions including the World Finance Award for Most
Sustainable Bank in Nigeria (twelve consecutive times), Euromoney’s
Best Bank for ESG (Ghana), and the IFC’s Best Trade Partner in West
Africa.
“Access Bank’s climate risk journey reflects a long-standing commitment
to building a sustainable institution,” Jobome said. “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.”
Dr. Jobome was invited to speak because Access Bank’s journey in
building a sustainable organisation and leading the Nigerian corporate
landscape has been truly inspiring. The Bank’s proactive stance, deep
expertise, and results-driven implementation have made it a model for
other financial institutions in Nigeria and across Africa.
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.
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