By Newsshelve Correspondent.
Polaris Bank has added another feather to its cap by winning the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility Awards (SERAS), Africa’s most renowned and prestigious Sustainability/Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) recognition.
The award was presented to the bank at the 18th edition of the SERAS Awards, held at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.
The SERAS Awards celebrate organizations that exemplify innovation, impact, and excellence in advancing sustainable development.
The awards spotlight large corporations, SMEs, and nonprofits that champion solutions with lasting societal and environmental benefits.
Polaris Bank’s recognition at the SERAS Awards reaffirms its leadership in driving transformative change through its strategic Sustainability and CSR interventions.
The bank’s extensive portfolio of Sustainability, ESG, and CSR initiatives earned it the “Best in Rural Population Integration” award at the SERAS.
Over the years, Polaris Bank has implemented critical interventions across Nigeria, ranging from providing basic infrastructure to supporting vulnerable groups.
Some of its notable achievements include sponsoring the acquisition and planting of 2,000 economic trees across communities in Nigeria, donating equipment and renovating the Ibeju-Lekki Skill Acquisition Centre, and installing boreholes in key but underserved communities to provide access to clean water in rural areas.
The bank has also delivered educational resources and essentials to over 15,000 indigent students across public secondary schools in Nigeria, ensuring their continuous education.
Additionally, Polaris Bank has provided over a decade of free breast cancer screening support to some 20,000 women and retreat/experience sharing for survivors, which has reduced mortality rates in Nigeria.
Other notable interventions by the bank include establishing hospitals and reconstruction/rehabilitation centers for victims of sexual violence, and vocational centers for women.
Polaris Bank has also donated an ICT laboratory to the IWD Skills Acquisition Center and promoted financial literacy programs in schools.
The bank’s commitment to community resilience was demonstrated recently with the reopening of its Sagamu branch, which was destroyed during the cash crunch riots following the Naira redesign policy.
Following an appeal from stakeholders within the community, the bank’s management approved the complete reconstruction and re-equipping of the branch.
The reopening marked a turning point for the Sagamu community, restoring access to critical banking services and underscoring Polaris Bank’s role as a trusted partner in economic recovery.
Speaking on the award, Polaris Bank’s Managing Director, Kayode Lawal, highlighted the bank’s dedication to sustainability and social impact.
“We thank SERAS for the recognition of our bank’s strategic intervention and consistent investment across communities on projects that impact positively on the people and the environment.”
Lawal emphasized that sustainability is not just a cliché, but a journey. “Our involvement in community development projects is something borne out of our deliberate effort to impact the citizens through enhanced socio-economic interventions that reduce the impact of climate change on our environment, as it affects the economy and people at large,” he stated.
As a trailblazer in Sustainability and CSR, Polaris Bank remains steadfast in its mission to uplift communities, foster economic growth, and champion innovative solutions that address pressing societal challenges.
The bank’s commitment to sustainability and social impact has earned it recognition as a leader in the industry, and its win at the SERAS Awards is a testament to its dedication to creating positive change in Nigeria.
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