Access Bank Retains Business in the Community "BIG TICK" Award
Access Bank’s globally acclaimed responsible business programme combating HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has retained its ‘Big Tick’ status in ‘Business in the Community’s’ (BITC) Awards for Excellence for the second year running. The award, which was presented to the Bank at the recent BITC 2012 Awards for Excellence gala dinner held in the United Kingdom, recognized the fact that the Bank’s inspiring and innovative programmes have positively impacted one or more of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The ‘Big Tick’ award commends the best examples of business as a force for good and is the first level of awards available to entrants of National Awards for Excellence. Its receipt by Access Bank Plc underscores the Bank’s continuous efforts at promoting the doctrine of responsible business practices through initiatives and programmes that address economic, social and environmental challenges.
Specifically, BITC Awards for Excellence acknowledges the powerful and positive roles that business is playing in local communities by recognizing companies, across a number of categories, for the impact of their responsible business programmes. The awards are given to companies who have demonstrated leadership in key social and environmental issues, where business can make a difference at local, national and international levels.
Speaking on the award, Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said “I congratulate Access Bank Plc on achieving a reaccreditation for their combating HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria programme. There has never been a better time to showcase that business can be a force for good – for mutual benefits of both business and communities in which they operate. Our Awards for Excellence are all about celebrating responsible business and Access Bank has demonstrated that they can have a positive impact on society and people without losing focus on their business”.
In his reaction to the development, the Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said “We are delighted that our combating HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria programme has been reaccredited by ‘Big Tick’. This is in recognition of our continued commitment and positive impact on the society. At Access Bank, we believe that to be a better business, it is vital to behave responsibly and adopt a sustainable approach to our business strategy”.
Access Bank Plc is an international member of the Business in the Community and has made significant level of intervention in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. Over the past 7 years, the Bank has acquired financial strength by adhering to socially responsible goals, continuously displayed a strong commitment to global health issues by leveraging its people and financial resources to invest in successful health programmes across Africa. For this the Bank has earned numerous recognitions notable amongst which are the “FT/IFC Sustainable Bank Award for Africa and the Middle East and Africa Banker’s “Most Socially Responsible Bank in Africa Award”.
Access Bank Plc recently demonstrated its reputation as a good corporate citizen by donating the sum of USD1 Million to the Global Fund “Gift from Africa Project” to support the fight against the triple pandemics of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. This gesture makes Access Bank the single largest African private sector donor to the Global Fund. With operations in the United Kingdom and nine African countries, the Bank is firmly committed to deploying an effective CSR strategy that aligns with global standards and adds significant value to stakeholders, particularly its host communities.
About the BITC
The BITC stands for responsible business practice. The organization is a business-led charity organization with a growing membership of 850 companies, from large multinational household names to small local businesses and public sector organizations. Membership of the organization is pooled from countries across the world.
About Access Bank
Access Bank Plc is a full service Commercial Bank operating through a network of 348 branches and service outlets located in major centres across Nigeria, Sub Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom. Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1998, the Bank serves its various markets through 5 business segments: Institutional, Commercial and Retail Banking, Transaction Services and Financial Markets.
The Bank has over 800,000 shareholders including several Nigerian and International Institutional Investors and has enjoyed what is arguably Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in the last ten years ranking amongst Africa’s top 20 banks by total assets and capital in 2011.
As part of its continued growth strategy, Access Bank is focused on mainstreaming sustainable business practices into its operations. The Bank strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible and socially relevant.