FirstBank Sustainability Centre has again taken the business of sustainability further by organising the second annual International Sustainability Conference scheduled for November 12, 2015 at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School (LBS), Ajah, Lagos. The conference, themed “Sustainability and Value Creation in Africa” is designed to stimulate sustainability principles as key components of business development and continuity.
The conference will expound on practical insights in minimising 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. These key decision makers 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.
The GMD/CEO of FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya and the Dean, Lagos Business School, Enase Okonedo would play host to participants at the conference. Other global leaders who would participate at the conference include James Mwangi – Keynote Speaker and MD/CEO of Equity Bank, Kenya and Sangu Delle – Guest speaker and CEO, Golden Palm Investments. Also the list of panelists at the conference includes Prof. Juan Elegido – Vice-Chancellor, Pan Atlantic University; Chris Ogbechie – Head, Department of Strategy & Entrepreneurship, LBS; Olajobi Makinwa, Chief, Transparency & Anticorruption Initiative, UN Global Compact; Bola Adeeko – Head, Corporate Services Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Ndidi Nwuneli – Founder, Leap Africa and CEO, AACE Foods Ltd; Tayo Oviosu – CEO Pagatech; Kola Masha – Managing Director, Doreo Partners; Nneka Okekearu – Deputy Director, Enterprise Development Centre, PAU; and Dr Tunji Adegbesan – Founder Gidi Mobile
According to the GMD/CEO of FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya, ‘the Bank remains committed to the ideals of corporate citizenship and sustainable businesses practices. “Consistent with the Bank’s position as a sustainability thought leader, we established the FirstBank sustainability center in partnership with the Lagos Business School to serve as a specialised center that focuses on knowledge creation, knowledge dissemination and knowledge application of sustainability related issues, amongst other things. FirstBank would always strive to provide a unique value proposition that will drive higher levels of sustainability and business continuity”, he stated.
James Mwangi will deliver a keynote address on ‘Financial Inclusion as a Tool for Poverty Eradication in Africa’ while the panel sessions at the conference will focus on The Role of the Private Sector in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals; Corporate Governance and Ethical Enterprise; and Achieving Sustainability through Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
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.
