IFE ADEDAPO examines initiatives that corporate organisations can implement to make their environment sustainable
Businesses cannot afford to overlook the
well-being of the communities where they operate; hence significant
community development investments abound in the country.
However, managing the direct and
indirect environmental impact of business activities is one critical
responsibility that companies are believed to owe the society where they
operate, especially now that the issue of climate change is in the
front burner globally.
Beyond spending money to create
opportunities for advancement and growth, analysts say embracing
environment-friendly practices has become very imperative.
In other words, minimising carbon
footprints, achieving carbon neutrality, promoting wildlife/biodiversity
conservation, among others, are areas of impact analysts say businesses
need to consider.
The Group Head, Marketing and Corporate
Communications, First Bank, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, in an interview
with our correspondent, says that businesses must contribute to
environmental sustainability.
According to her, FBN Holdings Plc has
identified key priority areas that will boost the company’s
environmental sustainability stance.
Green initiatives and tree planting
She says FBN Holdings is working to
minimise waste by setting targets that will improve energy efficiency in
its data centres and offices, adding that there is also an initiative
to reduce air travels and paper use.
She says efforts channelled at going
green are being given a boost through the adoption of renewable energy
and tree planting initiatives by the group.
She says, “A key aspect of FBN Holdings’
effort at conserving resources is the reduction in the use of papers in
its business operations, which is anchored on a print optimisation
programme.
“The group’s long-term objective of
minimising its direct and indirect impact on the environment is giving
further vent to efforts at enhancing responsible lending, conserving
resources and conserving energy to reduce global warming by reducing its
carbon dioxide emissions.”
Using alternative energy sources
She explains that FBN Holdings is
constantly seeking opportunities to manage environmental and social
footprints through the use of alternative energy sources, encouraging
environmental-friendly technologies and investing in green Information
Technology initiatives, which has significantly reduced the energy
consumption of information technology equipment in the company.
Ani-Mumuney says, “From 2012 to 2014,
First Bank actively reduced the size of its data centre using
rationalisation and virtualisation techniques. A total of 68 servers
were decommissioned within this period. The bank also reduced its data
centre from 90 to 22 servers, running 500 virtual servers.”
This, according to her, is to ensure that the group contributes its quota to the preservation of the environment.
She explains that the company’s
Environmental, Social and Governance Management System is part of its
structured approach to embed sustainability and minimise its adverse
environmental and social impacts while enabling ecosystem sustainability
for future generations.
Support for conservation of wildlife and biodiversity
Ani-Mumuney says FBN Holdings, through
First Bank, had also partnered with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation
to actively support its activities on conservation and preservation of
wildlife and biodiversity.
According to the promoters of the Social
Enterprise Report and Awards, Corporate Social
Responsibility/sustainability is an approach to sustainability whereby
companies embed economic, social and environmental concerns into their
corporate culture. They say that this approach also takes into
consideration how organisations engage with their external and internal
stakeholders within the business and value chain and transparently
demonstrates how businesses in Nigeria are mitigating the impact of
their activities on the community and our common environment.
The SERAs, under the leadership of its
President, Mr. Ken Egbas, explains that consumers are becoming more
sophisticated, more critical and more demanding of corporate
organisations.
“They choose to make their purchases
from firms that are perceived to be more client-friendly and
client-focused; firms that show that they care and who are more
environmentally friendly and are seen to give back to society,” he says.
The Director, Betta Environmental
Services Limited, Mr. Adelere Adedamola, who agrees with Egbas, advises
businesses to invest in environmental sustainability to retain their
customers.
Beyond contributing to sustainable
environment, impacting the lives of the people in communities where any
business operates is very critical, according to Ani-Mumuney.
This, she says resonates with what the
world richest man, Bill Gates, said, “I believe the returns on
investment in the communities are just as exciting as successes achieved
in the business arena, and they are even more meaningful!”
Career counselling and financial literacy
The First Bank spokesperson says FBN Holdings does not joke with sustainable corporate as it will benefit the people.
She says FBN-Holdings has been driving
career counselling and financial literacy for young ones through the
Future-First programme designed to empower secondary school students
between the ages of 13 and 17. This is in partnership with Lagos
Empowerment and Resource Network and Junior Achievement Nigeria.
Ani-Mumuney says through the
collaborative effort with JAN, the company has been providing students
with the tools and knowledge required for long term financial
independence, availing the senior secondary school students of practical
business experience through an after-school business enterprise.
Empowerment of people with disabilities
FBN Holdings says it has designed its
Hope Rising programme to empower people living with disabilities. This,
Ani-Mumuney says, was being done through education, advocacy and
enlightenment, and skills acquisition.
The company says it has supported the
Patrick Speech and Languages Centre and Mr. Folawiyo Jimoh Adisa, a
para-badminton player who was sponsored to attend Para-Badminton
Tournaments across Europe.
“Mr. Abdulateef Alani Azeez, a hearing
impaired student of the Osun State Polytechnic, also received
scholarship under this initiative, while two visually impaired final
year law students of the University of Lagos, Mr. Fadiya Babatunde
Samuel and Mr. Oluwaseun Adeeko Solomon were sponsored for their
Nigerian Law School programmes in Lagos and Abuja,” she adds.
According to her, the company has also
partnered with the Golden Hearts Touching Lives Initiative and the
Tristate Cardiovascular Institute, providing medical outreaches and
interventions.
The Managing Director, Adora Consultants
Limited, Mr. Jare Ajiboye, opines that modern corporate giving practice
combines both people and environmental sustainability strategy to
ensure a holistic impact on the host community while helping to protect
the environment.
No comments:
Post a Comment