In furtherance of its commitment to environmental sustainability and a net zero ecosystem, the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has made donations of receptacles to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and three state governments namely; Lagos, Kano and Rivers respectively.
The receptacles were presented by the management of DBN to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) as well as Kano and Rivers State Ministry of Environment respectively. This is to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day, celebrated globally on June 5.
The director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Engr. Osilama Braimah, took delivery of the donated receptacles at the board’s headquarters located at the Central Business District, behind Defence College, Abuja. While in Lagos, managing director/CEO, of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, received receptacles at the agency’s Ijora Olopa headquarters.
The permanent secretary, Kano State Ministry of Environment, Aliyu Yakubu Garo, received the receptacles at the ministry headquarters, State Secretariat, Kano, while the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Pastor Emmanuel Feneimeka, took delivery of the receptacles at the ministry”s State secretariat, Port Harcourt.
In the same vein, the staff of DBN also took out time on the day by visiting some select schools across the country to interact with and provide training to students on recycling and other responsible behaviours toward the environment.
Observed under the #BeatPasticPolution campaign, the theme for World Environment Day 2023 is ‘Solution to Plastic Pollution and is geared toward redoubling actions to reduce plastic pollution and its impact on the environment.
Speaking on the occasion, the managing director/chief executive of DBN, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the donation of the receptacles was in furtherance of the Bank’s commitment towards sustainability issues.
“Every year, DBN actively celebrates World Environment Day. This day has become a permanent event in our corporate calendar. It is our deliberate way of demonstrating our commitment to greening the earth and trying to improve current negative effects of environmental degradation,” he stated.
According to him, this year’s theme for the World Environment Day, ‘Solution to Plastic Pollution’ “resonates strongly within our organisation as this is an area that we recognise and have deliberately put in place measures to address our carbon footprint”. mitigate.”
Okpanachi stated further that DBN commenced recycling activities within its offices across Abuja and Lagos in 2020 focusing on recycling PET bottles, cartons, and paper waste to imbibe in workers a culture of a safe environment.
“Our goal is to gradually reduce our use of plastics over the next 3-5 years. An ambitious goal we have set for ourselves and we have already put in place a Net Zero plan to demonstrate our commitment.
Continuing, the DBN chief said, “We also recognise that just as we are taking deliberate steps internally, we must do the same for our immediate environments. This year’s theme enables us to demonstrate our commitment to this goal of waste reduction by donating these plastic receptacles to states where data and research have shown, are serious and passionate about recycling and waste management.”
Okpanachi expressed DBN’s delight in complementing the unwavering efforts of the FCT, Lagos, Kano and Rivers state governments at waste management. Representatives of the beneficiaries of the receptacles in their various responses expressed gratitude to DBN for the kind gesture and the Bank’s unparalleled commitment to the promotion of a safe, clean and secure environment.
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