FirstBank Clinches Nigeria’s Best Bank for ESG for Second Year at 2025 Euromoney Awards

FirstBank Clinches Nigeria’s Best Bank for ESG for Second Year at 2025 Euromoney Awards

Lagos, July 28, 2025 – FirstBank, Nigeria’s premier financial institution and a key driver of financial inclusion, has once again been recognised as the Best Bank for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) in Nigeria at the 2025 Euromoney Awards for Excellence, held recently in London. This marks the second consecutive year the bank is receiving the prestigious honour, solidifying its position as a leader in sustainable banking and responsible finance.

The Euromoney Awards are among the most coveted recognitions in the global financial industry, with recipients selected through a rigorous evaluation process that examines both performance and long-term impact. FirstBank’s win reflects its deep-rooted sustainability strategy, which is seamlessly integrated across its operations and community initiatives.

In 2024 alone, FirstBank screened 237 transactions valued at over ₦3 trillion for sustainability risks, reinforcing its commitment to responsible lending and ESG-aligned credit practices.

As part of its environmental stewardship, FirstBank launched a nationwide tree planting campaign in partnership with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), planting over 30,000 trees in 16 locations as the first phase of a 50,000-tree project. The initiative is expected to absorb around 720 tonnes of CO₂ by the end of 2025, promoting climate resilience and biodiversity.

On the social impact front, the bank advanced its Gender Market Strategy by disbursing over ₦43 billion in FirstGem loans to women-led businesses in 2024. Its financial inclusion initiative, FirstMonie, also recorded a remarkable rise in transaction volumes, facilitating over ₦9 trillion worth of transactions through its nationwide agent network.

Demonstrating a strong focus on human capital development, FirstBank trained over 9,000 employees on ESG and sustainability practices and extended its learning platforms to 2,000 SMEs and corporates through webinars and workshops. Through the FirstBank Women Network, the institution also continues to support over 2,000 female employees, fostering inclusive leadership within its workforce.

Speaking on the award, Patrick Akhidenor, Chief Risk Officer and Chairman of the FirstBank Sustainability Committee, said:

“We are honoured to receive this prestigious recognition once again. It affirms our unwavering commitment to building a sustainable and inclusive future for all. Our ESG strategy is built on three core pillars: education, health and welfare; diversity and financial inclusion; and responsible lending, procurement, and climate action.”

He added that the bank remains focused on “driving impact through purposeful initiatives and ensuring our ESG efforts deliver real value to communities across Nigeria and beyond.”

FirstBank’s continued excellence in ESG aligns with its vision to be Africa’s bank of first choice, leading with purpose, innovation, and accountability.