ACAMB Begins 30th Anniversary with Tree Planting Event

The Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) started its 30th anniversary celebrations with a tree-planting event on Providence Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos in June.

The event aimed to promote environmental sustainability while celebrating three decades of improving corporate communications and marketing in Nigeria’s banking sector. It was held in Lagos and attracted many participants.

ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, and the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Akin Morakinyo, led the event. They were joined by Vice President 1, Chinwe Bode Akinwande; Vice President 2, Morolake Onifade; and current and past executive committee members.

Also attending were Group Heads of marketing and Corporate communications and Heads of Departments from various banks. They braved the heavy rain to plant trees, showing their commitment to this important milestone.

A tree was planted for each bank in attendance, with each tree named after the respective bank.

During the event, Jide Sipe welcomed members and dignitaries. He highlighted the association’s dedication to the banking industry's reputation and growth.

“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 which directly improve our collective brand image and customer loyalty,” he said.

He added, “What ACAMB is doing also coincides with our 30th anniversary celebration. One of the best ways to celebrate this milestone is to contribute to the environment by the planting of trees that will on the long run be environmentally and economically impactful to the society at large.”

Sipe also announced plans for the anniversary celebrations running through September 2026. This includes a Golf and Networking Experience on 27 June 2026, at Ikoyi Club, Lagos. The celebrations will end with a grand Gala Night on 30 September 2026.

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

Akin Morakinyo, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of CIBN, launched the ACAMB 30th anniversary logo. He praised ACAMB for its long-standing partnership with the Institute.

“This anniversary is dedicated to the glory of God and the service of humanity,” he said. “I charge every member to hold firmly, to professionalism and ethics in the discharge of their duties.”

Dr Nkechi Ali Balogun, a founding member of ACAMB, shared a look back at its beginnings. ACAMB was founded in 1996 by representatives from banks like United Bank for Africa (UBA), Union Bank, IBWA (later Afribank), NEXIM Bank, First Bank, Bank of the North, Savannah Bank, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“The late Mr. Kabir Dangogo, a staff of Union Bank at that time and founding president, gathered us at Kuramo Lodge with a simple idea, that banks could compete and still respect one another,” she said. “I recall with fond memories how Tony Ede of CBN, a founding trustee, propelled our course by providing the association with conducive venues where we hosted our very first meetings.”

Ogie Eboigbe, a member of the Association’s Board of Trustees, talked about the need for the group due to banks damaging each other's reputations.

“Banks were winning customers by tearing down their rivals, and it was hurting public confidence in all of us,” he said. He also mentioned the contributions of late Toyin Abayomi Banjo; VP, Gbade Sanda; Aduke Gomez; and Tunde Thomas in helping achieve the association’s objectives.

The tree-planting exercise shows ACAMB’s commitment to environmental sustainability. It also represents the Association’s growth and impact over the last three decades.

ACAMB was founded in 1996 to tackle the negative views of the banking industry and restore ethics and public trust. Today, it remains a strong voice in the sector, promoting positive perceptions and addressing challenges as the banking industry grows both in Nigeria and across Africa.