Fidelity Bank Plc, one of the country’s most diversified financial
institutions has been adjudged the “Best Green Partner 2015” by the Lagos State
Government at the recently concluded 2016 Tree Planting Day.
The organisers of the event said that Fidelity Bank was given the
award in recognition of the Bank’s outstanding contributions towards the
protection and improvement of the environment.
Specifically, they said that the Bank which is the first Nigerian
financial institution to win the award showed relentless support for
initiatives aimed at identifying and promoting the preservation, protection and
beautification of the environment.
Speaking at the event held at the National Youth Service Corps
(NYSC), Camp in Lagos, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity
Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to support the
State’s laudable greening policy as it aligns strongly with the Bank’s
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focus on conservation and
environmental protection.
“Fidelity Bank works in collaboration with public institutions –
state and local governments – to create and maintain green parks in chosen
locations.
The beautification of the Falomo Roundabout in Lagos State, in
partnership with the Lagos State Government, is a typical example of what the
Bank seeks to achieve in this area,” he said.
While promising to work with the State to create and maintain
green parks in chosen locations Okonkwo noted that the Bank has successfully
executed several beautification projects across the country.
Some of these projects include Onikan, Milverton, Dopemu and
Matori Roundabouts in Lagos State; RSUT in Rivers State, Rangers Avenue
junction in Enugu State, Mbaise Road in Owerri, Imo State, Abia Towers in
Umuahia, KrikaSama Roundabout in Maiduguri, Borno State amongst others.
He also disclosed that the Bank supports environmental advocacy
groups like the Nigeria Conservative Foundation (NCF) in their advocacy
programmes, one of which is the annual “Walk For Nature”, an annual event
designed to create awareness about nature conservation and good environmental
practices.
“We also undertake green
initiatives that assist the environment. In this regard, we have become the
first, and perhaps, the only Bank in Nigeria that dispenses cash with recycled
biodegradable cash bags instead of polyethylene bags used by others, which is
destructive to the ecosystem.”
Fidelity Bank also assents to relevant international Accords and
Protocols aimed at promoting sustainability, like the Equator Principles.
In his keynote address themed, “Lend a Hand to Save Trees”,
Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, noted that planting of trees was
crucial for the environment as trees provide oxygen, helps conserve energy,
saves water, and prevents erosion among others. He disclosed that the state
plans to plant 10 million trees by 2020.
The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State
Government (SSG), Tunji Bello commended Fidelity for initiating the drive for a
greener environment and called on other corporate bodies and public spirited
individuals to join hands with the state to conserve nature and make Lagos an
environmentally friendly place for all to live.
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