The Managing Director and Chief Executive of First Bank Group, Mr Olusegun Alebiosu has stressed the need to encourage children in embracing and promoting nature, even as he emphasised the economic benefits in preservation of nature through tree planting.
Alebiosu, whilst speaking at a tree planting at the Nigeria Conservative Center in Lagos said preservation of nature through tree planting will not only reduce the level of pollution and increase the general well-being of Nigerians, but also serve as a money-making venture for the country.
Noting that the bank plans to plant 30,000 tree this year across all the countries in which it operates, stressed the need for the ministry of environment and stakeholders int the country to partner with schools.
He stated further that although Nigeria presently has less than 10 per cent forest cover as against over 30 per cent more than 10 years ago, he said engaging school children in appreciating nature through tree planting can see the country achieve nearly 50 per cent forest cover over the next decade.
“It is something we can aim for in Nigeria over the next decade to have a forest cover of up to 50 per cent. With the amount of rainfall we have, I think it is achievable. I believe that students as part of even bringing them up to understand the environment can plant trees in the school garden and their homes and towns.”
In celebrating its 2024 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) Week, he noted that it continued with the tree planting initiative that kicked off last year “to spread the acts of kindness beyond humans, to the environment itself, thus showing kindness to nature and mother earth in appreciation for accommodating human existence and our various never-ending activities.
“The ‘Tree Planting’ initiative is targeted at planting 50,000 trees by 2025, and I have no reservation about our ability to achieve the goal seeing the strong resolve of everyone who has committed to this cause. Therefore, this year, we aim at planting 30,000 trees across the country, and we have already commenced implementation with the support of the students of Government Secondary School, Karshi, Abuja.”
Alebiosu also commended the Management and Staff of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) for their role in the shared vision, for inspiring and partnering with FirstBank on the tree planting cause.
On his part, the Director General of the NCF, Joseph Onoja commended FirstBank on its initiative at supporting the preservation of nature and restoration of the country’s forest cover from less than 10 per cent.
He also urged the FirstBank management to support the protection of elephants in the country , noting that the number of elephants in the country are rapidly dwindling due to poachers and loss of habitat.
Last year, FirstBank had partnered with multiple organisations impacting about 60,000 lives with various SPARK (i.e. Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness) amplification projects carried out in 60 orphanage homes, 20 schools, and several hospitals. Remarkably, most of these projects were championed and implemented by volunteer FirstBank staff through the Employee Giving & Volunteering Scheme.