FirstBank’s FirstAcademy Wins Global Gold Award for Social and Climate Change Impact

FirstBank of Nigeria, West Africa’s premier financial services provider, has earned international acclaim as its Corporate University, FirstAcademy, received the Gold Award for Best Corporate University in Social & Climate Change at the 2025 Global Council of Corporate Universities (GlobalCCU) Awards held in Paris, France.

The prestigious award recognises FirstAcademy’s exceptional commitment to advancing social responsibility and climate change education through its learning and development programmes. The academy was praised for aligning its training initiatives with the bank’s sustainability goals and internal stakeholder needs, while actively supporting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts.

The GlobalCCU Awards, a biannual international event, celebrates excellence in corporate universities around the world. Since its inception in 2013, the awards have recognised organisations that demonstrate innovation and impact in corporate learning, talent development, and value creation for society and the environment.

In awarding FirstAcademy the top honour in its category, the GlobalCCU Awards acknowledged the institution’s role in promoting environmental consciousness and inclusive capacity-building. Through strategic integration of climate education into its curriculum, climate finance programmes, and sustainability-focused learning initiatives, FirstAcademy has established itself as a model of responsible corporate learning.

Speaking at the ceremony, Annick Renaud-Coulon, Founder and Chair of the GlobalCCU Awards, commended FirstAcademy, describing it as “an outstanding Corporate University that is clearly the best globally for driving social and climate change learning initiatives.” She also noted the academy’s strong alignment with FirstBank’s vision of sustainable development and its effective governance structure linking learning outcomes to business priorities.

FirstAcademy, established in 2012, serves as FirstBank’s corporate university, created to drive talent development, knowledge sharing, and culture transformation. It is tasked with equipping staff with the capabilities required to achieve strategic objectives and contribute meaningfully to societal progress.

Reacting to the recognition, Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at FirstBank, stated: “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award, which reaffirms our belief in business as a force for good. FirstAcademy’s initiatives reflect our deep commitment to social impact, climate action, and building a sustainable future for all.”

Beyond enhancing employee competencies, FirstAcademy’s programmes have significantly contributed to environmental awareness and social upliftment, reinforcing FirstBank’s leadership in responsible banking.

As FirstAcademy continues to bridge the gap between corporate learning and community impact, it sets a powerful precedent for corporate universities worldwide, championing a future where education drives real-world transformation.