By Ayomide Otitoju
FirstBank, a leading financial institution in West Africa, has won the prestigious Gold Award for Best Corporate University in Social & Climate Change at the 2025 Global Council of Corporate Universities (GlobalCCU) Awards.
The accolade was conferred on FirstBank’s learning and development arm, FirstAcademy, in recognition of its exceptional commitment to embedding social and climate responsibility in its corporate training programs. The award ceremony was held in Paris, France.
According to the GlobalCCU, the award celebrates corporate universities that create value not only for their organisations but also for society and the environment. The GlobalCCU Awards, inaugurated in 2013, are held biennially and are regarded as one of the highest honours in the field of corporate education.
In her congratulatory remarks, GlobalCCU Founder and Chairman Annick Renaud-Coulon described FirstAcademy as “a very mature Corporate University which demonstrates a strong alignment with FirstBank’s vision of responsible banking and sustainable development.” She added, “FirstAcademy sets a visionary standard in advancing meaningful social and climate change impact through learning and inclusive capacity building.”
Launched in 2012, FirstAcademy was established to enhance employee capabilities, drive organisational culture, and support FirstBank’s strategic goals. More recently, the academy has taken a pioneering role in climate action, developing capacity-building programs, expanding climate finance knowledge, and promoting sustainability across the bank’s operations.
Speaking on the achievement, Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at FirstBank, said:
“We are honoured to receive this global recognition. It affirms our dedication to social responsibility and climate action. At FirstBank, we believe businesses can and should be a force for good. FirstAcademy’s impact reflects that belief.”
With this latest recognition, FirstBank continues to strengthen its reputation not just as a financial powerhouse but as a socially and environmentally responsible institution, setting a benchmark for corporate universities around the world.
