Businesses cannot afford to overlook the well-being of the communities where they operate; hence significant community development investments abound in the country.
However, managing the direct and indirect environmental impact of business activities is one critical responsibility that companies are believed to owe the society where they operate, especially now that the issue of climate change is in the front burner globally.
Beyond spending money to create opportunities for advancement and growth, analysts say embracing environment-friendly practices has become very imperative.
The Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, in an interview with our correspondent, says that businesses must contribute to environmental sustainability.
According to her, FBN Holdings Plc has identified key priority areas that will boost the company’s environmental sustainability stance.
Green initiatives and tree planting
She says FBN Holdings is working to minimise waste by setting targets that will improve energy efficiency in its data centres and offices, adding that there is also an initiative to reduce air travels and paper use.
She says efforts channelled at going green are being given a boost through the adoption of renewable energy and tree planting initiatives by the group.
She says, “A key aspect of FBN Holdings’ effort at conserving resources is the reduction in the use of papers in its business operations, which is anchored on a print optimisation programme.
“The group’s long-term objective of minimising its direct and indirect impact on the environment is giving further vent to efforts at enhancing responsible lending, conserving resources and conserving energy to reduce global warming by reducing its carbon dioxide emissions.”
Using alternative energy sources
She explains that FBN Holdings is constantly seeking opportunities to manage environmental and social footprints through the use of alternative energy sources, encouraging environmental-friendly technologies and investing in green Information Technology initiatives, which has significantly reduced the energy consumption of information technology equipment in the company.
Ani-Mumuney says, “From 2012 to 2014, First Bank actively reduced the size of its data centre using rationalisation and virtualisation techniques. A total of 68 servers were decommissioned within this period. The bank also reduced its data centre from 90 to 22 servers, running 500 virtual servers.”
This, according to her, is to ensure that the group contributes its quota to the preservation of the environment.
She explains that the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance Management System is part of its structured approach to embed sustainability and minimise its adverse environmental and social impacts while enabling ecosystem sustainability for future generations.
Support for conservation of wildlife and biodiversity
Ani-Mumuney says FBN Holdings, through First Bank, had also partnered with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation to actively support its activities on conservation and preservation of wildlife and biodiversity.
According to the promoters of the Social Enterprise Report and Awards, Corporate Social Responsibility/sustainability is an approach to sustainability whereby companies embed economic, social and environmental concerns into their corporate culture. They say that this approach also takes into consideration how organisations engage with their external and internal stakeholders within the business and value chain and transparently demonstrates how businesses in Nigeria are mitigating the impact of their activities on the community and our common environment.
The SERAs, under the leadership of its President, Mr. Ken Egbas, explains that consumers are becoming more sophisticated, more critical and more demanding of corporate organisations.
“They choose to make their purchases from firms that are perceived to be more client-friendly and client-focused; firms that show that they care and who are more environmentally friendly and are seen to give back to society,” he says.
The Director, Betta Environmental Services Limited, Mr. Adelere Adedamola, who agrees with Egbas, advises businesses to invest in environmental sustainability to retain their customers.
Beyond contributing to sustainable environment, impacting the lives of the people in communities where any business operates is very critical, according to Ani-Mumuney.
This, she says resonates with what the world richest man, Bill Gates, said, “I believe the returns on investment in the communities are just as exciting as successes achieved in the business arena, and they are even more meaningful!”
Career counselling and financial literacy
The First Bank spokesperson says FBN Holdings does not joke with sustainable corporate as it will benefit the people.
She says FBN-Holdings has been driving career counselling and financial literacy for young ones through the Future-First programme designed to empower secondary school students between the ages of 13 and 17. This is in partnership with Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network and Junior Achievement Nigeria.
Ani-Mumuney says through the collaborative effort with JAN, the company has been providing students with the tools and knowledge required for long term financial independence, availing the senior secondary school students of practical business experience through an after-school business enterprise.
Empowerment of people with disabilities
FBN Holdings says it has designed its Hope Rising programme to empower people living with disabilities. This, Ani-Mumuney says, was being done through education, advocacy and enlightenment, and skills acquisition.
The company says it has supported the Patrick Speech and Languages Centre and Mr. Folawiyo Jimoh Adisa, a para-badminton player who was sponsored to attend Para-Badminton Tournaments across Europe.
“Mr. Abdulateef Alani Azeez, a hearing impaired student of the Osun State Polytechnic, also received scholarship under this initiative, while two visually impaired final year law students of the University of Lagos, Mr. Fadiya Babatunde Samuel and Mr. Oluwaseun Adeeko Solomon were sponsored for their Nigerian Law School programmes in Lagos and Abuja,” she adds.
According to her, the company has also partnered with the Golden Hearts Touching Lives Initiative and the Tristate Cardiovascular Institute, providing medical outreaches and interventions.
The Managing Director, Adora Consultants Limited, Mr. Jare Ajiboye, opines that modern corporate giving practice combines both people and environmental sustainability strategy to ensure a holistic impact on the host community while helping to protect the environment.
