Banks Must Embed Climate Goals Into Core Strategies—Keystone Bank ED Okoro

Keystone Bank Limited has urged financial institutions to integrate climate considerations into their core business strategies, arguing that such a shift is critical to achieving sustainable development and unlocking greater investment in climate-resilient projects.

The bank made the call during the two-day Climate Finance Preparedness Clinic (CFPC), organised by the Lagos State Government through the Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy (OCCE), at its head office in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director, Corporate Banking & South, Keystone Bank, Nnenna Anyim Okoro, said sustainable development would remain elusive unless financial institutions deliberately align their operations, lending and investment decisions with climate objectives.

“For us at Keystone Bank, we believe that sustainable development can only be achieved when financial institutions take deliberate steps to integrate climate considerations into their core business strategies,” she said.

Okoro noted that climate finance requires collective commitment from governments, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to mobilise the capital needed to address climate challenges.

She said initiatives such as the Climate Finance Preparedness Clinic are helping to build partnerships and strengthen institutional capacity to move climate discussions into practical actions with measurable impact.

According to her, Keystone Bank remains committed to supporting innovative financing structures that will unlock funding for climate-resilient infrastructure and green projects across Nigeria.

“We are focused on enabling access to both local and international climate funds, while also empowering businesses to transition towards low-carbon and climate-resilient operations,” she added.

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Titilayo Oshodi, said the clinic was designed to reinforce the systems connecting policy, projects, institutions, data and investment.

“This clinic is not just about discussions; it is about strengthening the systems that connect policy, projects, institutions, data, and investment,” Oshodi said.

She added that Lagos State is committed to building a robust climate finance ecosystem capable of attracting investment, supporting sustainable projects and positioning the state as a leading subnational player in climate action across Africa.

The clinic brought together stakeholders from government, the financial sector and development institutions to strengthen the capacity of financial institutions to access, mobilise and deploy climate finance. Discussions focused on climate finance opportunities, climate risk management, environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration, blended finance, green lending, waste management, energy efficiency and emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s carbon market.