West African banks plant thousands of trees in sustainability drive

Keystone Bank Limited partnered with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation to plant more than 100 fruit trees—including jack fruit, oil palm, cashew and mango—on International Day of Forests, supporting Nigeria’s Green Recovery programme that aims to raise forest cover to 25% over the next 30 years. Dr. Muhtari Aminu‑Kano of the foundation warned that Nigeria has lost over 90% of its forest cover and highlighted the importance of such initiatives for climate mitigation.

Advans Ghana Savings and Loans planted 1,600 Acacia, Teak and Shea seedlings at the Chipa and Kogni Forest Reserves in collaboration with Ghana’s Forestry Commission. CEO Guillaume Valence said, “At Advans Ghana, we believe that sustainable growth is more than financial success; it is about creating lasting value for our customers, communities, and the environment.” The bank reported an 80% survival rate from previous plantings and linked the effort to a broader climate roadmap that includes digital paper‑use reduction.

Both banks framed the tree‑planting activities as part of their corporate social responsibility and broader environmental sustainability strategies.