FirstBank, one of West Africa’s premier financial institutions, has announced the commencement of its 2025 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) Week. The week-long initiative will hold from 27 October to 1 November 2025 and marks the ninth edition of the event.
The CR&S Week is part of FirstBank’s longstanding commitment to promoting community development, environmental stewardship, and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the Bank’s signature initiative, Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness (SPARK), employees across its global branches will dedicate their time and resources to projects that foster kindness and social impact.
Speaking about the initiative, Acting Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications at FirstBank, Olayinka Ijabiyi, emphasised the significance of the programme. According to her, CR&S Week is a reminder to show compassion and goodwill across society. She noted that FirstBank believes kindness is a powerful tool capable of creating long-term positive change.
As part of the 2025 activities, FirstBank has partnered with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) to plant at least 20,000 trees. This initiative contributes to Nigeria’s 2060 decarbonisation agenda and aligns with the Bank’s pledge to plant 50,000 trees by 2025—having already planted 31,000 in the past two years.
The Bank will also collaborate with Borno and Katsina State Governments to support women affected by Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF). This effort, which includes funding, surgery, and distribution of post-care kits, is in line with the Bank’s commitment to advancing SDG 5 on women empowerment.
Throughout the week, staff will participate in themed webinars, school sensitisation programmes, and community outreach. The event will conclude with visits to orphanages, IDP camps, and charitable homes in Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa, and the UK.
Since its launch in 2017, FirstBank’s CR&S Week has grown into a global movement encouraging individuals, customers, and partners to show empathy, act with kindness, and contribute towards building inclusive and sustainable communities.
