By Ngozi Onyeakusi— Sterling Bank partners NGO on climate change
Sterling Bank Plc has said it is partnering  Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI) on a campaign tagged #NaijaClimateNow, to implement solutions towards climate change adaptation in Nigeria as part of its commitment and significant contributions to a better and safer ecosystem.

Naija Climate Now presents an opportunity for all stakeholders within the environmental space, including the government, the private sector, non-governmental and international entities, to reflect on issues affecting Nigeria and propose solutions towards climate adaptation on the Race to Zero.

Managing Director/CEO,  Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, disclosed this in Lagos while addressing a press conference on the partnership. He noted that the bank has been promoting practices that protect the environment for the benefit of humanity through its corporate social responsibility initiative known as the Sterling Environmental Makeover (STEM).

He said STEM, which was launched more than a decade ago as a cleaning exercise promoting sanitation and hygiene, has over the years evolved into a national movement championing the cause of the environment. The programme currently covers public enlightenment campaigns, partnership with waste management agencies in almost all the states of the federation, tree planting initiatives to combat desertification in parts of Northern Nigeria, and an annual national cleaning exercise. He added that Sterling Bank has committed more than a billion Naira to the programme since its inception.

As a build-up to the C0P26 – UN Climate Change Conference, scheduled to hold in Glasgow, Scotland, on 1-12 November 2021, CYCDI is organising a Climate Change Exhibition. Art Exhibition titled “Naija Climate Now; Race To Zero Emission” will be hosted by The British Deputy High Commission on 07 October 2021.

The Exhibition on 17 Canvases will showcase sustainable climate adaptation solutions towards climate resilience, green economic recovery and low carbon Nigeria. It will also depict 34 solutions presented by Naija Climate Now finalists, and the goals of COP26; Limiting Global Temp to 1.5 degrees Celcius, Climate Adaptation, Climate finance and Partnerships to deliver the Goals.
The overall objective is to support the UK’s commitment to work with all countries, including Nigeria and joining forces with civil society, companies and people on the frontline of climate change to inspire climate action ahead of COP26.

The 34 Green Entrepreneurs will be admitted to the hybrid innovation hub to attend training and co-creation sessions in November 2021. The training aims to enable green businesses in climate-smart agriculture, food processing, water resources, climate technology, and biodiversity protection while promoting Climate Change Enterprises to champion Green Recovery in Lagos and across other Nigerian states.

Besides these, the campaign will also produce thousands of Green Entrepreneurs within the environment, agriculture, tech, education, and creative space. The target is to move everyone closer to a clean, green future to create jobs and prosperity without harming the planet.

In the first quarter of 2022, the Green Entrepreneurs tech marketplace will open for thousands of entrepreneurs to transact businesses while protecting the planet.