FirstBank Sustainability Centre has again taken the business of sustainability further through its sponsorship of the International Sustainability conference scheduled for October 30, 2014 at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School, Ajah, Lagos. The conference themed “Leading a Sustainable Business” is designed to stimulate sustainability principles as key components of business development and continuity.
The conference will expound practical insights on minimizing business risks, reducing cost, increasing revenues and enhancing brand reputation for businesses. Participants’ profiles include CEOs and top executives of corporations, institutional investors, academia, directors/heads of foundations, government agencies and NGOs operating in the social space as well as business regulators and top executives responsible for CSR and Sustainability functions. The GMD/CEO of FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya would participate in a C-Suite Panel Discussion themed “Embedding Sustainability Practices: Perspectives from Forward Looking Companies”.
Other global leaders who would participate at the conference include Professor David Grayson of Cranfield University, Mr. Paul Gurney, Director, Sustainability Services, Accenture Africa, and many more global thought leaders who would be sharing insights on many prominent and enduring businesses that have embraced the practice of sustainability and how local businesses can take the lead in promoting sustainable businesses.
According to the GMD/CEO of FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya, ‘the bank remains committed to the ideals of corporate citizenship and sustainable businesses practices and this is attested to with FirstBank becoming the first organisation in Nigeria to be awarded the BS25999, global Certification on Business Continuity Management (BCM) in December 2011 and the first banking institution to achieve the new international certification on Business Continuity Management – ISO22301 (Societal Security: Business Continuity Management System) in 2013. FirstBank would always strive to provide a unique value proposition that will drive higher levels of sustainability and business continuity, he stated.
About FirstBank
First Bank of Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, is Nigeria’s leading financial services institution by total assets and gross earnings and one of the largest corporate and retail banking financial institutions in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa). Since its establishment in 1894, the Bank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, risk management and strong capitalization.
FirstBank operates an extensive distribution network with over 750 business locations (623 branches, 61 quick service points and 69 cash centers/agencies), over 2,464 ATMs and over 9 million customer accounts. The Bank provides a comprehensive range of financial services and has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, Banque International de Credit (B.I.C) in the Republic of Congo, International Commercial Bank (ICB) in Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal as well as its Representative Offices in Johannesburg, Beijing and Abu Dhabi.
FirstBank is the recipient of many awards. The Bank has been named “The Best Bank Brand in Nigeria” three times in a row – 2011, 2012, 2013 – by the globally renowned “The Banker Magazine” of the Financial Times Group. FirstBank’s brand purpose is to always put its stakeholders, customers and partners at the heart of its business, even as it is poised to standardize customer experience and excellence in financial solutions across Sub Saharan Africa, in consonance with its brand vision “To be the partner of first choice in building your future”. The brand promise is to always deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and excellence. This commitment is anchored on the FirstBank’s inherent values of passion, partnership and people, to position its customers first in every respect.
For three consecutive years, 2012, 2013 and 2014, FirstBank was named the “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards. Other recent awards include the “Best Bank in Nigeria” in the Euromoney Awards for Excellence, “Best Bank in West Africa” and “Most Innovative Bank in Africa” in the African Banker Awards, “Best Bank in Nigeria” in the EMEA Finance African Banking Awards for the fourth time, “Best Foreign Exchange Services in Africa” in the EMEA Finance Treasury Services Awards, “Best Banking Group in Nigeria” by World Finance Banking Awards, and “Best Financial Reporting Company” by Africa Investor.