LAPO Microfinance Bank (MfB) has committed $200,000 to a partnership aimed at improving access to water and sanitation for 12,000 households and 500 small businesses in Kano and Jigawa states by December 2027, as part of its expanding sustainability programme.
The bank disclosed this during its 2026 Sustainability Week, which also highlighted its investments in clean energy, tree planting, environmental education and employee welfare.
Under its Green Clean Lending programme, LAPO MfB said it had disbursed more than ₦21.72bn to finance over 768,000 clean energy products, including solar home systems, solar-powered appliances, refrigerators, freezers and clean cookstoves.
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The interventions, according to the bank, are designed to expand access to cleaner energy, support livelihoods and reduce dependence on traditional energy sources.
It also disclosed that its partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture had supported the planting of 3,000 trees.
The week-long sustainability activities, held around World Sustainability Day on October 28, were organised under the theme, “Citizen of Change: Local Roots, Global Impact”.
As part of the programme, the bank provided free eye screening and corrective glasses to employees, irrespective of their positions, in a move to promote workplace health, inclusion and productivity.
It also visited Ayedere Ajibola Senior High School, Ketu, Lagos, to sensitise students to environmental sustainability.
Another major feature was the Circularity Expo 2026, which showcased solutions and business practices promoting recycling, reuse, resource efficiency and responsible consumption.
Described as the first of its kind in the microfinance banking subsector, the expo highlighted how financial institutions could help businesses and communities adopt circular economy practices and develop more resilient livelihoods.
Speaking on the bank's sustainability agenda, its Head of Sustainability, Ngozi Nwaichi, said the initiative went beyond environmental protection.
“Sustainability is not just about protecting the environment; it is also about improving lives, creating opportunities and ensuring that people and communities can thrive,” she said.
Nwaichi added that responsible actions within workplaces and communities could contribute to broader global development objectives.
“Our theme reflects our belief that every responsible action, whether within our workplace or in the communities we serve, contributes to a much larger global objective,” she said.
The bank said its activities supported six United Nations Sustainable Development Goals covering good health and wellbeing, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production, climate action, and partnerships for sustainable development.
These are SDGs 3, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 17.
LAPO MfB said it would continue integrating employee welfare, financial inclusion, responsible business practices and environmental protection into its operations, lending activities and community engagements.
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