FirstBank, a leading financial institution in West Africa, has strengthened its partnership with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) to drive sustainable finance and unlock capital for development.
This partnership was reinforced at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in Seville, Spain.
FirstBank’s Chief Risk Officer, Patrick Akhidenor, represented the bank at the conference and highlighted two flagship initiatives driving resilience finance in Nigeria: The Solar Equipment Financing initiative and the revamped FirstGem Fund.
The Solar Equipment Financing initiative offers tailored financing options for solar power systems, while the FirstGem Fund provides single-digit interest loans to women entrepreneurs without collateral requirements.
Akhidenor said, “We are committed to driving sustainable finance and unlocking capital for development.
“Our partnership with UNGC and participation in the FfD4 Conference demonstrate our dedication to innovative finance solutions that address the SDG financing gap.”
Sanda Ojambo, CEO of UNGC, emphasized the need for innovative, inclusive financial models for underserved regions.
She said, “The private sector must play a central role in shaping fit-for-purpose, scalable finance solutions. De-risking tools and blended finance can help unlock capital and drive meaningful impact.”
The bank provides training, networking, and tailored financing to SMEs across various sectors through its SMEConnect hub.
This initiative demonstrates FirstBank’s capacity to lead efforts in sustainable finance and support development in Nigeria.
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