By Ayomide Otitoju
FirstBank, West Africa’s premier financial institution, has been named Nigeria’s Best Bank for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at the 2025 Euromoney Awards for Excellence. The recognition, announced at a ceremony in London, marks the bank’s second consecutive win in the category and reaffirms its leadership in sustainable finance and responsible banking.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are among the most prestigious in the global financial industry, with recipients selected through a rigorous evaluation of performance, strategy, and impact-driven criteria.
FirstBank secured the award on the strength of its deep-rooted sustainability agenda, with ESG principles embedded across its operations. In 2024 alone, the bank screened 237 transactions worth over ₦3 trillion for sustainability risks, incorporating ESG metrics into its credit framework.
Among its standout initiatives is a large-scale tree planting campaign in partnership with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), which saw over 30,000 trees planted across 16 Nigerian locations. The project, part of a broader 50,000-tree plan, is projected to sequester around 720 tonnes of CO₂ by the end of 2025, supporting climate resilience and biodiversity conservation.
FirstBank also continued to advance financial inclusion and gender equity through its Gender Market Strategy, disbursing more than ₦43 billion in FirstGem loans to women-led businesses in 2024. Its agency banking platform, FirstMonie, facilitated transactions exceeding ₦9 trillion, extending access to banking services in underserved communities.
Additionally, the bank has prioritized ESG knowledge development, training over 9,000 employees while delivering webinars and workshops to more than 2,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and corporates. Through the FirstBank Women Network, it also supported the leadership development of over 2,000 female employees.
Commenting on the award, Patrick Akhidenor, Chief Risk Officer and Chairman of the FirstBank Sustainability Committee, said:
“We are honoured to receive this prestigious award for the second year running. It validates our commitment to creating a sustainable and inclusive future for all stakeholders. Our ESG strategy is built on three core pillars: education, health and welfare; diversity and financial inclusion; and responsible lending, procurement, and climate initiatives.”
He added that the bank remains focused on driving impact through purposeful programs that deliver inclusive growth and meaningful community transformation.
FirstBank’s sustained success in ESG is underpinned by its vision to be Africa’s bank of first choice, leading with purpose, innovation, and accountability.
