Polaris Bank, NCF expand nationwide tree planting to Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna

Polaris Bank, in partnership with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), has expanded its nationwide tree-planting campaign to three new locations: the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos State, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in Ogun State, and Sardauna Memorial College in Kaduna State.

The initiative, announced in a statement over the weekend, reflects the bank's continued commitment to combating climate change, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting sustainable environmental practices across Nigeria. It is part of a larger collective goal to plant 10,000 trees nationwide.

At the Lagos event, held at the Lekki Conservation Centre, Polaris Bank’s Executive Directors, Chris Ofikulu and Sharafadeen Muhammad, joined representatives from the NCF and other stakeholders in the exercise.

Chris Ofikulu, Executive Director, Commercial and Retail, underscored the bank's dedication to environmental sustainability. 

He recalled leading the bank's first tree-planting activity after the program's 2024 launch, noting its alignment with the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

“Polaris Bank sees sustainability not merely as a responsibility but as a business imperative,” Ofikulu stated, affirming the bank's role beyond traditional banking.

Sharafadeen Muhammad, Executive Director of Operations, emphasized that protecting the planet is a shared responsibility. 

He commended the project’s impact and encouraged the creation of nature reserves that conserve biodiversity while offering economic value.

In Ogun State, Mrs. Yetunde Okeleye, Divisional Head for Ogun/Oyo, described the FUNAAB exercise as a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to restoring degraded land and combating soil erosion.

“By planting economic trees across the country, we are showing that sustainability is not just a responsibility but part of our ethos as a bank,” Okeleye said.

Similarly, in Kaduna State, Mr. Kabir Lawal, Acting Group Head, North West, led the bank’s staff at Sardauna Memorial College. Lawal noted that sustainability is embedded in Polaris Bank’s culture and guided by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

“Beyond reducing carbon footprints, our tree-planting initiative restores degraded areas, prevents soil erosion, improves environmental health, and raises awareness on preservation,” he explained.

The NCF commended Polaris Bank's leadership in advancing environmental stewardship, noting that the planted trees, which comprise both fruit-bearing and shade-providing species, would aid erosion control, wind protection, and food security.

Community representatives from FUNAAB and Sardauna College also expressed appreciation to Polaris Bank and NCF, describing the project as timely and impactful in addressing the global climate challenge.