L-R: Mr. Hillary Ajuebon, DH, Resources, Unity Bank Plc;
Mr. Funwa Akinmade, Group Head, Retail, SME and E-Business, Unity Bank P
lc; Doyinsola Ogunye, Founder, RESWAYE; Desmond Majekodunmi, Founder,
LUFASI Nature Park; Ibukun Coker, Head, Strategy Department, Unity Bank
Plc; Eghomwanre Iyamu, Head, E-Business Departmentm Unity Bank Plc and
Samuel Akinyele, Head, Business Support Department, Unity Bank Plc at the
beach cleaning exercise to mark the World Earth Day 2023.
Unity Bank Plc has received commendation from one of
Nigeria’s foremost environmentalists, Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi for its
consistent environmental sustainability initiatives and programmes aimed at
protecting the planet earth.
Mr. Majekodunmi, who is the founder of Lufasi Nature Park, Lagos –
Nigeria’s only urban forest reserve – gave the commendation at the Bank’s
Beach Cleaning and Tree Planting exercise held to commemorate the World
Earth Day 2023.
According to the nature park promoter, Unity Bank’s commitment to
environmental protection through consistent investment in sustainability
programmes and initiatives has set the institution apart.
Recall that this year’s edition of the Beach Cleaning exercise makes it the
third year in a row that Unity Bank is holding the volunteer initiative,
being an activity lined up to commemorate the World Earth Day. Unity Bank
has partnered with 3 non-government organizations – Recycling Scheme for
Women and Youth Empowerment, RESWAYE, MEDIC and KBG to promote
environmental sustainability through the Beach Bleaning Initiative.
Majekodunmi joined no fewer than 200 volunteers, inclusive of members of
staff of Unity Bank, RESWAYE team and the Lagos Kids Beach Garden within
the Oba Elegushi beach environs who participated in the cleaning exercise.
The volunteers picked and removed over 100,000 plastic bottles from the beach to rid the beach and ocean of plastic waste and reduce pollution.
L-R: Mr. Funwa Akinmade, Group Head, Retail, SME and
E-Business, Unity Bank P lc; Matthew Obiazikwor, Head, Communication and
Brand Management, Unity Bank Plc; Desmond Majekodunmi, Founder, LUFASI
Nature Park; Ibukun Coker, Head, Strategy Department, Unity Bank Plc; and
Samuel Akinyele, Head, Business Support Department, Unity Bank Plc at the
beach cleaning exercise to mark the World Earth Day 2023.
Also as featured in the previous editions, the Bank also carried out a Tree
Planting exercise in 23 locations across the country, with members of staff participating in planting at least a tree in each of the locations.
Speaking at the event, the Divisional Head, Resources, Unity Bank Plc, Mr.
Hillary Ajuebon said that the World Earth Day initiatives, have become a core focus of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility aimed at promoting climate action and reduction of environmental pollution.
Some Unity Bank staff planting a tree in Kano
Citing recent reports on ocean pollution, he decried gloomy statistics
stating that: “of the over 380 million tons of plastic produced globally
every year, about 10 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans
from different coastal plains. There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic
waste estimated to be in our oceans. While 70% of the debris sinks into the
ocean’s ecosystem, 15% floats, and 15% lands on our beaches.”
While noting that plastic pollution has become one of the world’s most
pressing environmental issues, he said Unity Bank would continue to join
collaborative efforts aimed at eliminating plastic pollution in our oceans.
Some Unity Bank staff planting a tree in Bauchi
Ajuebon further recalled that in addition to the Beach Cleaning and Tree
Planting exercise, the Bank had, throughout the month of April, embarked on
aggressive sensitization on environmental sustainability, reinforcing the
Bank’s culture of prioritizing sustainable practices, adding that the Bank
has over time promoted corporate and business philosophy that encourages
low paper usage, recycling and adoption of renewable energy through
increased investment in solar-powered branches and ATMs.
