Source: APO – Report:
The United States Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc has certified the African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) (https://Afreximbank.com/) Abuja African Trade Centre (AATC) the prestigious LEED Platinum certification, the highest global standard in sustainable building design and construction.
This milestone establishes the Abuja AATC as the first building in Nigeria, the second in West Africa and the nineteenth across Africa to attain this level of recognition. It is also among the first large-scale trade and business centres on the continent to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum, highlighting Afreximbank’s commitment to embedding sustainability, innovation, and climate-smart practices into Africa’s trade infrastructure.
The Abuja AATC comprises two interconnected nine-storey towers designed to create a comprehensive ecosystem for trade, business, and innovation. One tower houses world-class commercial grade A office spaces, a trade and exhibition centre, a conference centre, a technology and SME incubator, a digital trade gateway, and a trade information services hub. The adjoining tower features a 148-room business hotel with seminar and meeting rooms, wellness facilities, a restaurant, and other ancillary amenities. The facility also accommodates offices for local and international financial institutions and policy organizations, providing a full facilitation system for trade and business development across the continent.
Originally designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification, the Abuja AATC exceeded expectations due to the dedication, expertise, and intentionality of the project team, which included architects, designers, engineers, consultants, contractors, and Afreximbank’s Environmental Sustainability and Governance (ESG) and project management teams. Through meticulous planning, high-level sustainable construction methodologies, and seamless coordination among stakeholders, the project achieved LEED Platinum Certification on 26 November 2025, a recognition that reflects exceptional performance in sustainability, energy and water efficiency, and environmental stewardship. LEED Platinum represents the highest standard for green buildings globally, signifying that the Abuja AATC meets stringent criteria across multiple categories, including energy use, water management, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, and sustainable site development. With 81 points earned, the Abuja AATC exceeds the threshold required for Platinum certification, demonstrating that it is among the most environmentally responsible, resource-efficient, and high-performing buildings in Africa.
The building integrates advanced sustainability features that reduce operational energy consumption by 40 to 50 percent compared to conventional buildings. High-performance glazing, energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, light emitting diode (LED) lighting, and intelligent building management controls ensure energy efficiency, while water-saving design elements reduce potable water use by at least 30 percent, promoting resource conservation in a high-demand urban environment. Waste management and recycling protocols support circular economy objectives, and sustainable transport facilities, including electric vehicle charging stations and bicycle infrastructure, which encourage low-carbon mobility. These features contribute to indoor environmental quality and directly align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including SDG Seven (7) on clean energy, SDG Nine (9) on industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and SDG 13 on climate action. Globally, green buildings of this standard can lower operating costs by 8 to 9 percent annually, strengthening long-term financial sustainability.
Director and Global Head, Real Estate and Administration at Afreximbank, Dr Robert Lumbuye Tomusange said: “The Afreximbank Abuja AATC’s attainment of LEED Platinum certification underscores Afreximbank’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, innovation, and climate-smart development. This milestone demonstrates that trade infrastructure can be both commercially competitive and environmentally outstanding, setting a new benchmark for Africa’s green building landscape.”
The Abuja AATC now stands as a living demonstration of Afreximbank’s vision to integrate commercial competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability into Africa’s trade infrastructure. Its LEED Platinum certification advances Afreximbank’s ESG objectives by reducing the environmental footprint, enhancing social value through healthier and more inclusive workspaces, and reinforcing strong governance through adherence to globally recognized sustainability standards. The building serves as a replicable model for responsible, low-carbon trade infrastructure across Africa, proving that commercial viability and environmental responsibility can coexist, and paving the way for future climate-smart trade and business centres across the continent.
– on behalf of Afreximbank.
Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com
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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt
For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com
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