ACCESS BANK FLAGS OFF SECOND PHASE OF GLOBAL WARMING CAMPAIGN

Access Bank Plc has re-affirmed its commitment to reducing the effect of global warming with the commencement of the second phase of its Going Green; Beyond Words campaign in Niger and Sokoto States.

According to a statement, signed by Olusegun Fafore of the bank's Corporate Affairs Department, the bank had in 2009, entered into a strategic partnership with Idea Builder Initiative to execute the pilot phase of the campaign which resulted in the planting of over 2, 500 trees in Lagos, Abuja and Abia states between 2009 and 2010.

The second phase of the tree planting campaign, according to him, which was launched in Niger state on Thursday, June 30, 2011, will be inaugurated in Sokoto state on Thursday, July 7, 2011 with 'Green Starter' toolkits distributed to participating schools/students to promote enlightenment about the wide variety of trees that support environmental sustainability.

'Going Green; Beyond Words,' he said, 'is designed to improve the environment by helping to moderate the climate, improve air quality and support neighbourhood beautification.'

He quoted Ojini Olaghere, Group Head, Enterprise Business Support Group as saying, 'This corporate commitment is the first of its kind in Nigeria and we are excited to join forces with the Nigerian public school system and Idea Builders Initiative on the erasure of our carbon footprint. We have broadened our horizons to cover Niger and Sokoto States'.

'We hope not only to help towards reducing the annual haze that blankets the region, but also contribute to protecting and preserving the natural environment as an invaluable asset.

At Access Bank Plc, we see it is as part of our social responsibility to protect and preserve that environmental as best we can, and the this initiative - Going Green; Beyond Words, is designed to achieve these objectives.'

Also, Lucy Kanu, Executive Director, Idea Builders, said 'There are several environmental initiatives taking place in Nigeria but what makes 'Going Green; Beyond Words' unique is that it has the ability to account for all trees planted by pupils in partner schools.

Contributing individuals and institutions will receive tree planting certificates with exact data on where and what trees they planted.'