First Bank teams up with NCF on biodiversity protection

PRESERVATION of biodiversity and protection of wildlife in Nigeria is receiving more attentions from corporate organisations, particularly, from those observers considered as ‘unexpected quarters’.

This time, a first generation financial institution, First Bank Plc., in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), are promoting a sustainable awareness on how to preserve wild life and biodiversity in the country.

Besides, to save Nigerian environment from negative impacts of climate change, the bank is setting up Conservation Club in schools, apparently to “catch them young”, with full awareness of the importance of general environment, especially, biodiversity.

This was highlighted last week at the launching of the first phase of the Bank’s conservation initiative at Lagos State Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, with the planting of 120 trees where it also formally set up a conservation club.

The conservation initiative is two pronged with emphasis on tree planting and students’ conservation clubs, which will serve as vehicles to drive environmental protection and conservation.

According to Ismail Omamegbe, Head, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Firbank, part of the bank’s long-term approach to sustainability is minimising direct and indirect negative impacts on the environment. This, he said, informed the bank’s efforts at enhancing responsible lending and partnering to conserve resources and focus on three priority areas which are; minimise carbon footprint, carbon offsetting conservation and preservation of wildlife and biodiversity.

Omamegbe explained that Firs Bank’s partnership with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation is strategic because of its leadership in promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria. “This ties in with the Bank’s desire to see the environment sustained because it is a socially responsible entity aiming at minimizing direct and indirect impacts on the environment and to create awareness of the need to preserve wild life and biodiversity among school children in Nigeria”, he said.

He explained that First Bank’s partnership with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation is strategic because of it’s leadership in promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development in Nigeria which ties in with the Bank’s desire to see the environment sustained because it is a socially responsible entity.

“The bank is supporting conservation clubs in schools, because they will become agents of promoting environmental education in schools and their communities. We clearly know in terms of record that Lagos State Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo, Ikorodu is a fantastic school through what they have done in terms of conservation. As such, through this partnership we can begin to address the issue of climate change”, he said, adding that climate change is having serious impacts on the environment which can be seen in flooding, agriculture, health and others, with serious effect on the environment.”

Besides, the key objectives of setting up conservation clubs is to minimize carbon footprint through planting of trees, create awareness of the need to preserve wild life and biodiversity among school children and educate and build environmental conscious students through partnerships with reputable NGOs and institutions.

Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director, Technical Programmes, Nigeria Conservation Foundation said First Bank has a desire to promote the health of the environment and NCF is glad for the partnership, saying the bank exhibited itself as a socially responsible entity by lending its support to conservation clubs in the country.