FirstBank wins Nigeria’s Best Bank for ESG at the Euromoney Awards 2025 for the second year in a row, highlighting its leadership in sustainable banking

FirstBank has once again proven its dominance in sustainable banking as it wins Nigeria’s Best Bank for ESG at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025.

Also read: FirstBank wins Euromoney award for best ESG investments

Held recently in London, the event recognized top financial institutions globally, and FirstBank’s recognition reflects its strong commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.

This award marks the second consecutive year FirstBank wins Nigeria’s Best Bank for ESG, solidifying its reputation as a trailblazer in responsible and inclusive banking practices.

The selection process for the award is known for its competitive and thorough approach, making this back-to-back recognition especially significant.

FirstBank’s victory stems from its strategic efforts to embed ESG principles across its operations.

In 2024, the bank screened 237 transactions worth over ₦3 trillion for sustainability risks, strengthening its ESG-focused credit framework.

One of the bank’s standout initiatives includes a large-scale tree-planting campaign in collaboration with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation.

With over 30,000 trees already planted across 16 Nigerian locations, FirstBank aims to hit 50,000 by the end of 2025, a move expected to absorb up to 720 tonnes of CO₂ — a powerful commitment to climate action and biodiversity.

FirstBank’s Gender Market Strategy has disbursed over ₦43 billion in FirstGem loans to support women-led businesses.

Its FirstMonie agents also facilitated over ₦9 trillion in transactions, further expanding access to finance across underserved regions.

The bank isn’t just focused on transactions. It has trained more than 9,000 employees on ESG and impacted over 2,000 SMEs and corporate stakeholders through workshops and webinars.

Its FirstBank Women Network is an industry-leading initiative supporting the career growth of over 2,000 female employees.

Patrick Akhidenor, Chief Risk Officer and Chairman of FirstBank’s Sustainability Committee, emphasized:

“This award is a validation of our efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive future. Our ESG strategy revolves around education, welfare, inclusion, and climate action.”

Beyond ESG, FirstBank’s operational footprint spans three continents.

With over 820 offices and 280,000 agent locations in Nigeria, the bank serves more than 43 million customer accounts and leads digital innovation through services like the *894# USSD Banking code.

In addition to FirstBank winning Nigeria’s Best Bank for ESG, 2025 has seen the bank receive numerous accolades including Best SME Bank in Africa, Best Private Bank in Nigeria, and Best Retail Bank in Nigeria.