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Ozena Utulu, Kehinde Olugbemi, Dr. S. Olayiwole Onasanya, Titilola Docemo.
For its contribution and support towards Environmental Sustainability, especially, in Lagos, the state government, awarded Heritage Bank with its 2022 Environmental Sustainability Award.
The bank joined other corporate organisations and schools
within the State, awarded for their efforts towards protecting nature and
limiting the impact of climate change on Earth.
The Award was given to the bank by the state government
through the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State in the
commemoration of 2022 World Environment Day Celebrations in which the bank was
also a major sponsor.
Speaking at the year 2022 World Environment Day finale
held at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos at the weekend, the managing director/CEO,
Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo, commended Lagos state government and
its ministry for the efforts exuded during environmental sustainability to
protect ecosystems in supporting health and wellbeing of all creatures.
Sekibo, who was represented by the Chief Risk Officer,
Heritage Bank, Mr. Kehinde Olugbemi, said: "as this year’s World
Environmental Day Celebration theme implies, we have 'Only One Earth,' and
truly, only one earth to protect. The fact is that human well-being is
closely linked to the health of the environment. And our planet is reaching a
breaking point. We are beginning to see the consequences of global warming on
ecosystems and communities."
Today, he said, industrialisation, though positive for
human well-being on the flip side, has raked lots of havoc on human existence.
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Kehinde Olugbemi, Captain Babangida Zakari, Ademola Docemo, Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, Brigadier General Maxwell Ejike.
"We realized that our people and other dwellers need
clean air to breathe, fresh water to drink, and places to live that are free of
toxic substances and hazards.
"So, as a part of our sustainability drive in the
Corporate social responsibility space, we have continued to put sustainability
at the heart of our decision-making for the sake of humanity and the bank’s own
bottom line because a healthy planet is the backbone of nearly every industry
on Earth," he pointed out.
Earlier at the event, Lagos state governor, Mr.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated that, there is an urgent need for everyone to focus
on the need to live sustainably with nature for the benefit of
mankind, adding that, this has become necessary to shift to a greener
lifestyle through both policies and individual choices.
He added that sustainability of the environment is among
the most pressing issues in the world today out of which the Earth faces triple
planetary emergencies namely, Climate change, loss of biodiversity and
Environmental Pollution.
The governor, who was represented by the Permanent
Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omolaji Gaji, added
that, the impact of the challenges has negatively made the achievements of
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) less successful.
“With nature in emergency mode, the #OnlyOneEarth campaign
for World Environment Day 2022, wants us to celebrate the planet through
collective environmental action”, he said.
The governor commended Corporate Organisations, such as
Heritage Bank for ensuring that the persistent drive of the State’s policy
towards entrusting the legacy of greening and restoration of indigenous trees
to the citizen is sustained.
Similarly, the commissioner for the Environment and Water
Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello said, government through the ministry of the
Environment & Water Resources has implemented several programmes to mitigate
these challenges through Tree planting, Climate change summit, Environmental
bees’ clubs in schools, waste to wealth and ban on open defecation.
Speaking through the Director of Sanitation Services
Department, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, the PS added that, the government keyed into
this call in 2021 by commencing the greening of Abraham Adesanya setback,
together with restoration of some historical plants in specific locations like
Agege, Idi-Mangoro where Mango trees were planted, Idi-Agbon in Ifako-Ijaiye where
coconut trees were planted and in Lagos Island where breadfruit trees were
planted at St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Breadfruit Lagos as part of this
year’s celebration.
The guest lecturer, Dr. Ayo Tella while delivering his
paper, noted that, Anthropogenic effects caused by human activities such as the
felling of trees have altered the earth’s natural systems and survival of many
species.
Heritage Bank had earlier donated plastic bins to Navy
Town Secondary School, Ojo, Lagos, to mark the World Earth Day even as it has
embarked on a project to address water crisis, whilst contributing towards
making clean and potable water accessible to all.
Similarly, a global open-source movement known as Liter of
Light Nigeria partnered with Heritage Bank Plc to provide sustainable solar
electricity for Itomaro community in Lagos State while the bank, in 2020, had
been on the move to distribute over 10, 000 mosquito nets to rural
dwellers.
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