ACCESS BANK NIGERIA RECEIVES IFC EDGE GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION FOR SUSTAINABLE EXCELLENCE
Access Bank Plc, a leading African financial institution, has been awarded the IFC EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) Green Building Certification for its corporate headquarters, Access Tower, located in Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.
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| L-R: Alexandra Celestin, Regional Industry Manager, IFC Financial Institutions Group, Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa; Njideka Esomeju, Head, Retail Banking, Access Bank PLC; Dr. Gregory Jobome, Executive Director, Risk Management, Access Bank PLC; Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Regional Director, Central Africa and Anglophone West African, and Amaechi Okobi, Chief Communication Officer Access Holdings PLC, after presentation of IFC EDGE Certification of Access Tower to Access Bank at its Headquarters in Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos…recently. |
The EDGE Green Building Certification program, supported by the Government of Japan in Nigeria and globally funded by the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), with initial support from Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), recognizes Access Bank’s commitment to sustainable building practices. This achievement highlights the bank’s efforts to reduce energy consumption, water usage, and embodied carbon in construction materials.
A Commitment to Sustainable Development
Access Tower’s green certification results from strategic retrofits and efficiency-driven initiatives, leading to: 20% reduction in energy use, 33% reduction in water consumption and 99% reduction in embodied carbon in building materials
The building integrates state-of-the-art sustainability features, including an insulated roof, high-performance glass, fresh air pre-conditioning system, smart meters for energy monitoring, and water-efficient installations such as low-flow faucets and efficient water closets. These upgrades enhance efficiency and significantly reduce operational costs and environmental impact.
Access Bank’s Leadership in Sustainable Finance
Commenting on this milestone, Gregory Jobome, Executive Director, Risk Management at Access Bank, stated: “At Access Bank, we recognize that our purpose extends beyond banking. We are shaping a future where finance and sustainability go hand in hand. This certification is a testament to our vision of responsible growth, proving that environmental performance and business success can thrive together.”
Access Bank collaborated with the EDGE Experts Network (EEN) to ensure the successful implementation of sustainability measures.
IFC EDGE: Advancing Green Building Standards Globally
The IFC EDGE certification is a globally recognized standard for green buildings, ensuring compliance with sustainability benchmarks through independent third-party audits. IFC's EDGE program has been adopted in nearly 200 countries, certifying over 100 million square meters of green building space.
In Nigeria, over 800,000 square meters of office buildings, homes, hospitals, retail outlets, hotels, and mixed-use developments have been EDGE-certified, driving a shift towards sustainable infrastructure.
About Access Bank
Access Bank, a subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc, is a leading full-service commercial bank operating across three continents, 24 countries, and serving over 60 million customers. With a vast network of over 700 branches and service outlets, the bank employs more than 28,000 professionals across Africa and Europe, with representative offices in China, Lebanon, India, and the UAE.
The bank has been listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1998 and has grown to become one of Africa’s largest financial institutions, integrating corporate, investment, commercial, and retail banking services.
Access Bank is committed to sustainability and responsible banking, integrating green finance into its operations and supporting SMEs, financial inclusion, and digital innovation. The bank has empowered over 170,000 SMEs through customized financial solutions and advisory services.
About IFC & EDGE Certification
IFC (International Finance Corporation), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focusing on the private sector in emerging markets. In fiscal year 2024, IFC committed $56 billion to private companies worldwide to foster sustainable development and reduce poverty.
The EDGE program, an innovation of IFC, enables property developers to design and certify green buildings efficiently and affordably. It offers free software to help developers reduce energy, water use, and embodied carbon emissions by at least 20%. The program is supported by donors including the UK, Austria, Canada, Denmark, the EU, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
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