Polaris Bank, NCF expand tree planting drive to Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna
Polaris Bank, in partnership with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), has extended its nationwide tree planting campaign to three key locations: the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos state, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun state, and Sardauna College, Kaduna state.
The initiative, first launched in 2024 during the Bank’s World Environment Day commemoration, is part of the bank’s broader commitment to combating climate change, reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable environmental practices across Nigeria.
The Lagos edition, which held at the iconic Lekki Conservation Centre, was attended by Executive Directors Chris Ofikulu and Sharafadeen Muhammad, alongside partners from NCF.
Speaking at the event, Chris Ofikulu, Executive Director, Commercial and Retail, expressed appreciation to all participants at the tree-planting exercise, noting that the initiative highlights the importance Polaris attaches to environmental sustainability. He recalled leading the bank’s first tree planting activity after its launch in 2024 at TASUED, Ogun.
He further noted that the exercise aligned with the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, a global movement dedicated to securing a greener future for generations to come.
He emphasized that Polaris sees sustainability not merely as a responsibility but as a business imperative.
He added that, through this initiative, Polaris reaffirms its role beyond banking services and remains firmly in line with the collective goal of planting 10,000 trees.
Also speaking at the event, Sharafadeen Muhammad, Executive Director, Operations, emphasized that protecting the environment and the planet is a shared responsibility for the benefit of all.
He described the initiative as a commendable effort and encouraged the establishment of reserves that conserve nature while creating economic value. He reaffirmed Polaris’ commitment to supporting the tree-planting initiative.
In Ogun state, the Divisional Head, Ogun/Oyo, Yetunde Okeleye, emphasized that the tree-planting initiative reflects Polaris’ unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability. By planting economic trees across the country, including Ogun state.
“We are demonstrating that sustainability is not just a responsibility but part of our ethos as a bank. Our partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, underscores our resolve to restore degraded land, prevent soil erosion and combat climate change.
“Through this initiative, Polaris reaffirms its role as a driver of environmental stewardship and community well-being, while contributing to a greener and more sustainable future for generations to come,” Okeleye said.
In Kaduna, Kabir Lawal, Acting Group Head, North West, alongside the bank’s staff from Kaduna business locations, reiterated that sustainability is not just a catchphrase but the bank’s culture, a journey pursued with conviction.
