By Ayomide Otitoju
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has achieved a major sustainability milestone as its Abuja African Trade Centre (AATC) was awarded the prestigious LEED Platinum certification by the United States Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc—the highest global standard for sustainable building design and construction.
The Abuja AATC is the first building in Nigeria, the second in West Africa, and the nineteenth across Africa to achieve LEED Platinum, making it one of the continent’s first large-scale trade and business centres to meet this benchmark. The certification reflects Afreximbank’s commitment to integrating sustainability, innovation, and climate-smart practices into Africa’s trade infrastructure.
The AATC comprises two interconnected nine-storey towers. One tower houses grade A office spaces, a trade and exhibition centre, a conference centre, a technology and SME incubator, a digital trade gateway, and a trade information services hub. The adjoining tower features a 148-room business hotel, seminar and meeting rooms, wellness facilities, a restaurant, and additional amenities. The centre also accommodates offices for local and international financial institutions and policy organisations, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for trade and business development across Africa.
Initially designed for LEED Gold certification, the project exceeded expectations through meticulous planning, sustainable construction methodologies, and close collaboration among architects, engineers, designers, contractors, and Afreximbank’s ESG and project management teams. On 26 November 2025, the AATC earned 81 points—well above the Platinum threshold—highlighting excellence in energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, and sustainable site development.
The building incorporates high-performance glazing, energy-efficient HVAC systems, LED lighting, intelligent building management controls, and water-saving measures that reduce potable water use by at least 30 percent. Waste management and recycling protocols, along with electric vehicle charging stations and bicycle facilities, further support low-carbon mobility and resource efficiency. These innovations align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including clean energy (SDG 7), industry and innovation (SDG 9), and climate action (SDG 13), while reducing operational energy consumption by 40–50 percent compared to conventional buildings.
Dr. Robert Lumbuye Tomusange, Afreximbank’s Director and Global Head of Real Estate and Administration, said: “The Afreximbank Abuja AATC’s attainment of LEED Platinum certification underscores our unwavering commitment to sustainability, innovation, and climate-smart development. This milestone demonstrates that trade infrastructure can be both commercially competitive and environmentally outstanding, setting a new benchmark for Africa’s green building landscape.”
The LEED Platinum-certified Abuja AATC now stands as a model for responsible, low-carbon trade infrastructure in Africa, combining commercial viability with environmental stewardship and social value. The building reinforces Afreximbank’s ESG objectives while paving the way for future climate-smart trade and business centres across the continent.
