ACAMB Begins 30th Anniversary Celebration with Tree-Planting Initiative in Lagos

The Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) has commenced activities marking its 30th anniversary with a tree-planting exercise aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and reinforcing its commitment to responsible corporate citizenship.

The event, held on Providence Street in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, brought together senior banking executives, communication and marketing professionals, and industry stakeholders who participated in the exercise despite heavy rainfall.

The tree-planting initiative forms part of activities lined up to celebrate three decades of ACAMB’s contributions to advancing corporate communications and marketing excellence within Nigeria’s banking sector.

Leading the exercise were the President of ACAMB, Jide Sipe, and the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Akin Morakinyo. They were joined by members of the association’s executive committee, past leaders, heads of marketing and corporate communications from various banks, and other industry professionals.

As part of the exercise, participating banks each planted a tree, with every tree named after a respective bank as a symbol of growth, sustainability and long-term impact.

Speaking at the event, ACAMB President Jide Sipe said the initiative reflected the association’s enduring commitment to strengthening the reputation of the banking industry while contributing positively to society.

According to him, ACAMB was founded on the principle that industry stakeholders could work together to protect and enhance the image of the banking sector despite competition among institutions.

“Thirty years ago, a handful of professionals chose to put the reputation of the banking industry above rivalry. We are standing today on the foundation they laid, and every tree we plant here is a promise to keep building and, most importantly, deepen credibility by proactively addressing issues that improve our collective brand image and customer loyalty,” he said.

Sipe noted that the association deliberately chose tree planting as part of its anniversary activities because of its environmental and economic benefits.

He added that the exercise symbolises ACAMB’s desire to leave a lasting legacy beyond the banking industry.

The ACAMB president also unveiled a lineup of events planned to commemorate the association’s 30th anniversary. The programme includes a Golf and Networking Experience scheduled for June 27, 2026, at Ikoyi Club, Lagos, while the celebrations will culminate in a grand Gala Night on September 30, 2026.

“We are marking three decades the way they should be marked—with substance and with joy,” he stated.

Also speaking at the event, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Akin Morakinyo, unveiled the association’s 30th anniversary logo and commended ACAMB for its longstanding partnership with the institute.

He urged members of the association to continue upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“This anniversary is dedicated to the glory of God and the service of humanity,” Morakinyo said.

A founding member of ACAMB, Dr. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, reflected on the association’s origins, recalling that it was established through the collaborative efforts of representatives of five institutions—IBWA (later Afribank), Union Bank, NEXIM Bank, First Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

According to her, the idea behind the association was to encourage healthy competition among banks while promoting mutual respect and professionalism.

Similarly, a member of ACAMB’s Board of Trustees, Ogie Eboigbe, explained that the association emerged at a time when some banks were undermining competitors in pursuit of customers, a trend that negatively affected public confidence in the industry.

He said ACAMB was created to address such practices and foster a more ethical and collaborative banking environment.

Founded in 1996, ACAMB has played a leading role in promoting ethical communication practices, strengthening public confidence in the banking industry and addressing reputational challenges facing financial institutions.

The association said the tree-planting exercise serves as a fitting symbol of its growth, resilience and impact over the past three decades as it continues to champion positive perceptions of Nigeria’s banking sector at home and across African markets.