UBA opens climate action week, plans clean-up in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt

United Bank for Africa (UBA) has started a five-day Climate Action Week across its operations in Africa and beyond, running from October 26 to 30, 2026 under the theme "Banking on Africa's Climate Future".

The bank said the campaign is meant to deepen climate awareness, encourage responsible environmental habits and push sustainable finance. It opened with waste segregation bins placed across UBA offices and steps to cut single-use plastics at its head offices.

For everyday Nigerians, the bank is tying the campaign to things that already affect household budgets: food prices, energy use and urban flooding. UBA said it will share educational content on its media and digital platforms through the week on the causes and effects of climate change, and on recycling and responsible plastic disposal.

Clean-up and green finance push

Staff volunteers will take part in a group-wide clean-up on Saturday, November 7. In Nigeria, the exercise will hold in Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt, with employees joining to clean up communities.

UBA's Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, said climate change is already touching daily life. "We see its effects in rising food costs, increased energy demand and flooding that disrupts homes, businesses and livelihoods," he said.

He said the bank wants staff, customers and other stakeholders to adopt practical habits at work, at home and in their communities.

The bank also plans to sponsor Climate Convergence Week in Lagos on Friday, October 30, where it will give a talk and join a panel discussion. The session will showcase UBA Green Finance, the bank's financing offer for businesses investing in cleaner technologies and more sustainable operations.

Alawuba said climate risks can affect business continuity, operating costs and financial performance, which makes sustainability a concern for both companies and the banks that fund them.

UBA also said it is set to join the Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN), a move expected to deepen its environmental, social and governance (ESG) expertise and support staff training in sustainability.

The bank said the week forms part of a wider strategy that folds environmental responsibility into its Customer First philosophy through business practices, employee engagement, community projects and green finance.

UBA describes itself as one of Africa's largest financial institutions, with about 25,000 employees and over 45 million customers globally. It operates in 20 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States, France and the United Arab Emirates.

What happens next

The awareness activities run until Friday, October 30, when the Lagos Climate Convergence Week session holds. The staff clean-up follows on Saturday, November 7, in Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt.