United Bank for Africa has launched a Group-wide Climate Action Week designed to promote environmental responsibility and sustainable finance across its African and international operations. The five-day initiative, themed 'Banking on Africa's Climate Future', reflects the lender's commitment to embedding environmental considerations into its operations, customer relationships and financing offerings.
The campaign has begun with practical measures including the deployment of waste segregation bins across UBA offices and efforts to reduce single-use plastics at the bank's head offices. These actions represent the bank's effort to translate sustainability principles into concrete workplace practices across its wider ecosystem.
Oliver Alawuba, UBA's Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, stressed that addressing climate change requires collective action. He noted that climate impacts are already visible across Africa, manifesting in rising food costs, increased energy demand and flooding that disrupts homes, businesses and livelihoods. Alawuba called on UBA staff, customers and stakeholders to adopt sustainable habits and encourage others to do the same.
Alawuba highlighted the business case for climate action, stating that climate change presents significant risks to business continuity, operating costs and financial performance. He said that sustainability considerations are increasingly important for both businesses and the financial institutions that support them. Through UBA Green Finance, the bank aims to support eligible businesses that are investing in cleaner technologies and more sustainable operations, helping customers access financing solutions aligned with their needs while contributing to a more resilient private sector across Africa.
For businesses and investors in Nigeria, this initiative signals that a major lender is increasingly factoring environmental considerations into its lending decisions and risk assessments.