First Bank of Nigeria, the nation’s premier financial inclusion services provider, has unveiled its Annual Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Week, a tradition upheld for the past seven years. The week, scheduled for October 23 to 28, 2023, is a culmination of the bank’s commitment to giving back to communities and fostering positive change. It has already impacted over 200,000 lives across eight countries, supported more than 103 charities, and witnessed over 121,015 volunteer hours.

This year’s activities encompass a range of initiatives, including tree planting, women empowerment, SPARK Schools Engagement, orphanage visits, support for the less privileged, and Kind Comments Day.

First Bank, in collaboration with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, is launching a tree planting project aimed at planting 50,000 trees over a three-year period starting in 2023. This initiative is in line with the bank’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting environmental sustainability. It aligns with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation’s Green Recovery Nigeria (GRN) Forest Programme, which seeks to increase Nigeria’s forest cover from its current 4-7% to 25% by 2047.

With a commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG) of women empowerment, First Bank will support cancer foundations focused on women and provide skills acquisition for women on October 25 and 26, 2023.

The Kind Comments Day is an advocacy campaign aimed at inspiring and encouraging staff, customers, and stakeholders to use kind words when speaking about one another.

On October 27, 2023, the bank’s employees will engage with school students during the SPARK School Engagement activity. This initiative focuses on financial literacy and equipping young people with the entrepreneurial skills and mindset to prepare them for the future of work.

The CR&S Week will conclude with visits to orphanage homes and engagement with the less privileged on October 28, 2023. Orphanages, including those housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), will be visited in six geopolitical zones in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African markets.

Ms. Folake Ani-Mumuney, the Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications for First Bank, emphasized the bank’s commitment to promoting kindness and its positive impact on host communities. She encouraged everyone to join in celebrating the FirstBank Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability week, making kindness an integral part of daily interactions.

First Bank has consistently received awards and accolades for its positive impact and performance, including the Most Socially Responsible Bank (2018), CSR Bank of the Year (2020), and Best CSR Bank Nigeria (2021).