The African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) Abuja African Trade Centre (AATC) has received LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc., making it the first building in Nigeria, the second in West Africa and the nineteenth in Africa to attain the world’s highest standard in sustainable building design and construction. LEED certification, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, is the recognition that a building or community has met certain standards for sustainable design and energy efficiency
The certification places the AATC among the continent’s earliest large-scale trade and business complexes to reach LEED Platinum status, underscoring Afreximbank’s commitment to integrating sustainability, innovation and climate-smart practices into Africa’s trade infrastructure.
The Abuja AATC consists of two interconnected nine-storey towers designed as a comprehensive hub for trade, business development and innovation. One tower features grade-A office space, a trade and exhibition centre, conference facilities, a technology and SME incubator, a digital trade gateway and a trade information services hub. The second tower includes a 148-room business hotel with meeting rooms, wellness amenities, a restaurant and other ancillary facilities. The complex also hosts offices for local and international financial institutions and policy organisations.
Originally planned for LEED Gold, the project surpassed its target thanks to the coordinated effort of architects, engineers, designers, contractors, consultants and Afreximbank’s Environmental Sustainability and Governance (ESG) and project management teams. Their work resulted in LEED Platinum certification on 26 November 2025, reflecting high performance in energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, materials use and sustainable site development. With 81 points achieved, the AATC comfortably exceeds the Platinum threshold.
The building incorporates sustainability features that reduce operational energy use by 40 to 50 percent, including high-performance glazing, efficient HVAC systems, LED lighting and automated building controls. Water-saving systems cut potable water consumption by at least 30 percent. Recycling, circular waste management, bicycle infrastructure and electric vehicle charging stations support low-carbon mobility and resource conservation. These elements align with SDG 7 on clean energy, SDG 9 on industry and innovation and SDG 13 on climate action. Globally, buildings at this level of performance typically lower operating costs by 8 to 9 percent annually.
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.”
Afreximbank said the AATC serves as a demonstration of its vision to combine commercial competitiveness, innovation and environmental responsibility in Africa’s trade architecture. The certification strengthens the Bank’s ESG objectives by lowering the centre’s environmental footprint, enhancing workplace quality and embedding globally recognised sustainability standards. The AATC now stands as a replicable model for low-carbon, climate-smart trade infrastructure across the continent.
