The Nigerian Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) have hinged the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to partnership by businesses and lasting relationships among others.
Tonye Cole, Co-founder and Executive Director, Sahara Group, gave this hint while delivering a keynote address at the CEO roundtable organised by FirstBank of Nigeria limited in Lagos.
He said collaboration will impact positively on businesses. “We can come together and build a face that will brand Nigeria positively”, Cole said.
Cole advised other CEOs present at the forum to not be ashamed or afraid of collaboration, adding that one key pillar of sustainability is relationship.
Adesola Adeduntan, managing director of FirstBank said the bank has put in place an environmental, social and governance management system (ESGMS) to drive responsible lending and its commitment to financial inclusion.
“Now it’s evident that for us to reduce poverty and foster development, its important for us to explore innovative ways to provide access for financial services to about 2 billion unbanked adults in the world”, Adeduntan said.
He explained that FirstBank Sustainability Center at the Lagos Business is a partnership that has resulted in knowledge creation, knowledge dissemination and knowledge application on diverse sustainability related activities.
The bank CEO noted that engagement through programmes included over 16 executive education programmes organised, about 16 workshops and three international conferences, 18 stakeholder engagement forum, over 5,279 participants, empowered over 3,000 Small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) through its capacity building programmes and published over 10 research materials and case studies.
Adeduntan called on business leaders and other heads of Organisations present at the roundtable to consider such partnership for the enhancement of sustainable development anywhere they operate.
“As we explore innovative opportunities in our society today, we will map out strategies on how to support business survival and competitive advantage in a turbulent environments. We will also reinforce our commitment to champion sustainability and innovation”, he added.
Hope Moses-Ashike
