As part of Union Bank’s efforts to positively impact the communities within
which it operates, the bank recently joined governments, organisations and individuals across
the world to mark World Environment Day by training primary school students on the benefits
of upcycling to the environment.
Introduced in 1974 by the United Nations, the aim of World Environment Day is to facilitate
awareness and encourage action across the world for the protection of the environment.
According to a statement by the United Nations:
“This annual celebration provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an
enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises and
communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.”
This year, the global theme for the day was ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ and Union Bank played
its part by organising educative training workshops on upcycling for primary school students
in Lagos State.
Union Bank is committed to being a champion for sustainable business practices and the move
from a traditional linear economy to a circular economy. Upcycling, a process of converting
waste materials into new materials or products of greater use, encourages extracting the
maximum value from resources by reuse which is an important pillar of a circular economy.
Over 50 Union Bank employee volunteers facilitated the workshops which impacted about 500
students in Lagos from schools including St. Mary’s Private School & Agidingbi Primary
School. The students were educated on the importance of preserving the environment and
were taught how to convert Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles into pencil cases.
Speaking on the Bank’s activities to mark World Environment Day, Union Bank’s Head,
Corporate Communications and Marketing, Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem said:
“Union Bank is committed to being recognized as a sustainability champion and a
socially responsible bank. As leaders in the Nigerian financial sector, we are deploying
the latest technology for eco-efficiency and developing new processes to ensure we
are accountable across our value chain.
We will play a more active role in driving the development and long term sustainability
of our immediate and larger societies while continuing to be responsive to our
stakeholders’ expectations of accountability and growth. With these workshops, we are
teaching the next generation to also have a sustainability mind-set”.
Union Bank’s dedication to local communities and contribution to social development has
necessitated an investment in talent and education, citizenship, sustainability and innovation.
This commitment is articulated and progress captured in annual sustainability reports, the
second of which was recently published in the second quarter of 2018.
The Bank has invested in providing Nigerians with access to inclusive financial services, by
championing financial literacy for students in schools across the country. In March this year,
the Bank’s employees and executives including the Chief Executive Officer, Emeka Emuwa
tutored over 3,000 students from 30 schools across the country as part of activities to mark
Global Money Week and Financial Literacy Day.
Last year, during its Centenary anniversary, the Bank organised the Centenary Innovation
Challenge, to find and support novel ideas that address the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) in entrepreneurial ways which enable economic and societal growth and build an
inclusive society for young Nigerians.
With its focus set on the future, Union Bank continues to lead the way in shaping a better,
more sustainable future for generations to come.
About Union Bank Plc.
Established in 1917 and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1971, Union Bank of Nigeria
Plc. is a household name and one of Nigeria’s long-standing and most respected financial
institutions. The Bank is a trusted and recognizable brand, with an extensive network of over
300 branches across Nigeria.
In late 2012, a new Board of Directors and Executive Management team were appointed to
Union Bank and in 2014 the Bank began executing a transformation programme to reestablish
it as a highly respected provider of quality financial services.
The Bank currently offers a variety of banking services to both individual and corporate clients
including current, savings and deposit account services, funds transfer, foreign currency
domiciliation, loans, overdrafts, equipment leasing and trade finance. The Bank also offers its
customers convenient electronic banking channels and products including Online Banking,
Mobile Banking, Debit Cards, ATMs and POS Systems.
More information can be found at: www.unionbankng.com
