Access Bank, FG Back Move To Tackle Poverty, Climate Change

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, and Access Bank Plc have backed Global Citizen’s moves to end poverty, COVID-19, climate change as the international advocacy organisation announces the local hosts for its concert holding in LagosA statement by Global Citizen, a New York-based global not-for-profit body, said wealthiest nations needed to deliver on the promise to give $100bn annually to address climate needs of developing countries

Global Citizen said it is working with the Lagos State Government to create a limited-capacity event in celebration of Nigerians working on the frontline in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the body, leading personalities, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Nancy Isime are the local hosts for the live event slated for September 25, 2021.

Reacting, the finance minister, Ahmed, was quoted as saying, “Women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the COVID-19 pandemic – on the frontlines, in various sectors, and in their homes. Every woman and girl should be guaranteed safety in their respective homes, schools, communities, and places of work.
“This is a shared responsibility and through Global Citizen Live, we are calling on key stakeholders across private and public sectors to join hands in accelerating our common goal of ensuring that women are safe and economically empowered.”

The Group Managing Director Access Bank Plc, Dr Herbert Wigwe, said, “Access Bank strongly aligns with Global Citizen’s goals and objectives, possessing a strong drive to ending COVID-19, addressing the global food crisis, achieving education for all, advancing equity, and protecting the environmentThe statement further quoted the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said, “Lagos State is thrilled to be a part of Global Citizen Live. With the challenges of rising poverty, hunger and vaccine inequity facing Africa, we need businesses and governments around the world to respond to the call of citizens, stand in solidarity with the people of Africa, and commit to defending the planet and defeating poverty and inequality.”

The organisation also called on the G7 and the world’s billionaires to end the hunger crisis by contributing at least $6bn for the urgent provision of millions of meals for the 41 million people on the brink of starvation.