United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has launched a Group-wide Climate Action Week to promote environmental awareness, encourage responsible practices and expand sustainable finance across its African and international operations.
The five-day campaign, running from October 26 to 30, 2026, is themed “Banking on Africa’s Climate Future” and seeks to integrate environmental responsibility into the bank’s workplace practices, customer engagement and financing solutions.
The initiative began with the deployment of waste segregation bins across UBA offices and measures to reduce the use of single-use plastics at its head offices.
Throughout the week, the bank will use its media and digital platforms to educate employees, customers and other stakeholders on the causes and consequences of climate change, including its effects on food prices, energy consumption and urban flooding.
The campaign will also promote responsible plastic disposal, recycling and the role of financial institutions in financing clean energy, sustainable agriculture and other environmentally responsible businesses.
UBA Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, said climate change was increasingly affecting everyday life across Africa, making collective action necessary to address its consequences.
“Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern; it is increasingly shaping everyday life across Africa. We see its effects in rising food costs, increased energy demand and flooding that disrupts homes, businesses and livelihoods,” Alawuba said.
He added that the bank was encouraging employees, customers and other stakeholders to adopt practical and sustainable habits at work, at home and within their communities.
As part of its community engagement activities, UBA staff volunteers will participate in a Group-wide clean-up exercise on Saturday, November 7, in major cities across the bank’s markets.
In Nigeria, the exercise will take place in Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt, with employees expected to contribute to efforts to create cleaner and healthier communities.
The bank will also sponsor Climate Convergence Week in Lagos on Friday, October 30, where it will deliver a speaking session and participate in a panel discussion.
The engagement is expected to showcase UBA Green Finance, highlight the bank’s sustainability initiatives and examine how financial institutions can support Africa’s transition to a more sustainable and climate-resilient economy.
Alawuba said climate considerations were becoming increasingly important to business resilience, risk management and long-term economic growth.
According to him, climate-related risks can disrupt business continuity, raise operating costs and affect financial performance, making sustainability an important consideration for companies and the financial institutions that support them.
“Through UBA Green Finance, we seek to support eligible businesses investing in cleaner technologies and more sustainable operations,” he said.
He added that providing customers with financing solutions aligned with their needs could help build a more resilient private sector while creating opportunities for sustainable economic growth across Africa.
In another move to strengthen its sustainability capabilities, UBA is set to join the Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN).
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The proposed membership is expected to deepen the bank’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) expertise and support the professional development of employees in sustainability-related disciplines.
The Climate Action Week forms part of UBA’s broader sustainability strategy, which incorporates environmental responsibility into its Customer First philosophy through responsible business practices, employee participation, community initiatives and green finance.
By combining awareness campaigns, practical environmental activities and financing solutions, the bank aims to encourage sustainable choices while helping businesses and communities respond to the risks and opportunities associated with climate change.
UBA operates in 20 African countries and maintains an international presence in the United Kingdom, the United States, France and the United Arab Emirates. The financial institution has approximately 25,000 employees and serves more than 45 million customers globally, providing retail, commercial and institutional banking services.
