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The FirstBank Group has moved closer to achieving its environmental sustainability target of planting 50,000 trees by 2025, with the latest round of tree planting at the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos. The initiative is part of the bank’s long-term commitment to promoting environmental conservation and supporting Nigeria’s decarbonisation and climate resilience agenda. The ceremony, held as part of the bank’s 2025 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) Week, brought together FirstBank employees, environmental advocates, and partners from the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF). The event marked the final phase of the bank’s tree-planting campaign, which started in 2023 and has become a key feature of its annual CR&S activities. The 2025 CR&S Week, themed “Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness,” took place from October 27 to November 1, 2025. During the week-long campaign, FirstBank employees across its subsidiaries — including FirstBank Nigeria, FirstBank UK, FirstBank Gambia, FirstBank Sierra Leone, FirstBank Democratic Republic of Congo, FirstBank Guinea, FirstBank Ghana, FBNBank Senegal, First Pension, and First Nominees — participated in various community-focused projects. The initiative encouraged staff to volunteer their time and resources to support social and environmental causes aligned with the bank’s sustainability vision. Speaking during the tree-planting ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Firsbank, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, said the initiative represents the bank’s unwavering commitment to environmental protection and climate action. He noted that the tree-planting exercise, though symbolic, contributes significantly to combating climate change, improving air quality, and preserving biodiversity. “Tree planting, though seemingly simple, has profound significance, as it is an investment in cleaner air, stronger ecosystems, and human sustainability,” Alebiosu said. “This campaign, which was formally launched in 2023 with the vision of planting 50,000 trees by 2025, saw us planting 1,000 trees at the Lekki Conservation Centre in 2023 and an additional 30,000 trees in 2024 during the CR&S Week. This year, it is my pleasure to inform you that we will be planting the remaining 20,000 trees in line with our earlier promise of 50,000 trees by 2025.” He explained that the initiative aligns with the Paris Agreement and Nigeria’s Green Recovery Plan, which aim to strengthen the country’s climate adaptation and environmental resilience strategies. Alebiosu added that FirstBank’s commitment to environmental sustainability stems from its over 130 years of leadership in nation-building and corporate responsibility. “At FirstBank, our commitment to environmental stewardship is deeply rooted in our legacy of over 130 years of nation-building. We recognise that a thriving economy depends on a thriving planet. Therefore, we must all come together and make deliberate efforts to preserve the ecosystems that sustain life and livelihood,” he said. The bank’s partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, he added, has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the project. “It is a pleasure to partner once again with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation on this initiative, demonstrating our shared commitment to promoting biodiversity, conservation, and climate awareness — key pillars of our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) values,” Alebiosu said. He urged Nigerians and corporate organisations to take sustainability seriously, stressing that protecting the environment requires collective effort. “Today, as we gather to plant trees, let us remember: we are not just placing seedlings into the ground; we are sowing seeds of hope, renewal, and sustainability. We are reaffirming our belief that sustainability is not merely a corporate obligation but a shared responsibility that binds us all, as individuals, as organisations, and as a nation,” he added. Among the tree species planted during the exercise were cashew trees and Alstonia boonei, a herbal medicinal plant native to West Africa and known for its environmental and health benefits. The event also reflected Firbank’s broader goal of supporting Nigeria’s 2060 decarbonization plan, which seeks to achieve net-zero emissions through renewable energy, reforestation, and green finance initiatives. The tree-planting campaign is one of several sustainability projects launched by the bank, alongside its financial inclusion drive, waste reduction programmes, and youth empowerment initiatives. Industry observers say the initiative not only enhances Nigeria’s forest cover but also strengthens Firbank’s position as a leader in corporate sustainability and green finance. By fulfilling its tree-planting promise, the bank continues to demonstrate how the private sector can play a vital role in achieving national and global climate goals.
