Friday 23 December 2011

CSR NEWS SUMMARY ISSUE 2

IMOKE COMMENDS TULSI CHANRAI FOUNDATION
Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has described the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation as an institution which has impacted positively on the lives of the people in the state. While receiving the executive Chairman, Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, Mr. J. M. Chanrai, the governor said the foundation is not only a model, which provides services to the people of Cross River and their neighbours, but can be replicated throughout the nation because of it tremendous efforts. Imoke said the state would partner with the organisation in the execution of its health care delivery programme. The governor thus solicited the foundation's support in the training and retraining of its health personnel for the success story of the foundation to be maintained. Imoke said he believes that the partner is one which the state has benefitted from.

He pointed out that the Eye Care Programme of the Foundation has recorded tremendous success in the state as its services are enjoyed by patients from neigbhouring states. Imoke said the administration in the state would establish an Eye Centre at General Hospital Calabar to reduce the Eye-related problems in the state.
*Published in Daily Independent Newspaper, on Monday, 19th Dec. 2011
 
TRAINING CALABAR QUEENS ON HIV PREVENTION
Recently, the Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realisation (POWER) working on collaboration with the Cross River State Carnival Commission; Cross River Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA); and the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), staged a two-day capacity strengthening workshop for the Calabar Carnival Queen (CCQ) contestants on how to prevent the spread of HIV.

The training at the Channel View Hotel, Calabar was attended by about 30 CCQ contestants. During the event, the CCQ received lectures on “Adolescent Reproductive Health Situation in Nigeria: Emphasis on Cross River State”, “Facts about Teenage Unwanted Pregnancy” and “Basic Facts about HIV & AIDS” delivered by Dr. Benedicta Udoh and Dr Mfon Akpaso respectively. In her remarks, the Special Assistant to Governor Liyel Imoke on Public Health / NGO and Special Projects, Dr Regina Nwadiaro said the objective of the training was to strengthen the capacity of the Calabar Carnival Queen contestants on Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) and HIV prevention as well and groom them to become ambassadors or champions of HIV prevention.
*Published in Daily Independent Newspaper, on Monday, 19th Dec. 2011

COMMUNITY TO EMPOWER 50,000 UNEMPLOYED PERSONS
No fewer than 50,000 unemployed persons have been targeted by the Anambra State Chapter of the Fish Farm Estate Developers’ Association during the on-going registration drive under its community transformation agenda. This was disclosed in Ogidi, Idemili North Headquarters of Anambra State by the National President of the Association, Chief Morris Ebo after a meeting to round off the familiarization tour and flag – off exercise of the programme in the area.

He said that each of the beneficiaries would be given a fishpond, subsidized feeds, fingerlings, grants and free training on the management and handling of the fish ponds. It was aimed at turning all idle but committed youths into useful, productive and skilful citizens within a short period of time, through fish – farming.
*Published in Guardian Newspaper, on Tuesday, 20th Dec. 2011

JIGAWA IMMUNISES THREE MILLION AGAINST MENINGITIS
More than three million people were immunized in the just concluded campaign against cerebrum meningitis (MENAFRIVAC) in Jigawa State, according to the State Director General, Gunduma Primary Healthcare Board, Pharm Usaman Tahir. Adeyanju who reeled out the figures at the close of the Festival of Surgeries (FOS) organised by the state government to handle surgically – treatable diseases among the indigent population in Ondo over the weekend, added that the operations of the Mother and Child Hospital have greatly raised the bar of healthcare delivery of the State.

The FOS, an initiative of Mimiko as a Commissioner of Health between 1999 and 2003 is designed to assist the poor who suffer from surgically treatable diseases but cannot afford the cost of surgeries.
*Published in Guardian Newspaper, on Tuesday, 20th Dec. 2011

MIMIKO PROVIDES FIRST WATER DRILLING RIGS FOR ONDO IN 35 YEARS
In its quest to ensure adequate supply of portable water for his citizens, the Ondo State Government has commissioned two sets of Deeprock (D.R 150) drilling rigs procured for the State Water and Sanitation Agency (WATSAN). The State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, while speaking at the commissioning of the equipment at the premises of the Agency along Oba-Ile road in Akure, yesterday assured two deeprock rigs would bring succor to the people in the area of provision of portable water.
His words “The purchase of these drilling rigs is the first of its kind since the creation of Ondo State in 1976. Besides, it was UNICEF that donated the only rig that we had been using since 1992 and they had become moribund and dysfunctional due to old age. I believe that with these two new rigs, the people of Ondo State will begin to enjoy the supply of portable water, especially in our rural communities and other cities through the new accelerated rural supply scheme a.k.a KAMOMI.”
*Published in Daily Sun, on Wednesday, 21st Dec. 2011

EXXONMOBIL DONATES BUSES, GEOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT TO UNN, 0AU
Oil Producing giant, ExxonMobil, has donated two new buses and geological equipment worth more than N70 million to University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Making the donation in Lagos, recently, the Executive Director / General Manager, Upstream Nigeria Exploration of ExxonMobil, Mr Chikwendu Edoziem, expressed concern over the decline in educational quality in Geosciences in our universities and expressed hope that the company’s donation would, in some way, help to stem the tide.

The donation is part of the donor’s Corporate Social Responsibilities being carried out under the University Partnering Programme (UPP), which has been on for about four yeas now and which has seen it providing geological equipment, logistics support for students’ fieldwork, lecturer’ field allowance, training and mentoring of junior lecturers and students, constructions of five generator houses in the pilot
phase of the programme for six universities
*Published in Daily Sun Newspaper, on Wednesday, 21st Dec. 2011

OYO INAUGURATES 1,000 TRICYCLES
Oyo state Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday inaugurated the State Empowerment Scheme, tagged “keke Ajumose”. He gave out 1,000 tricycles to members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (ACOMAN) and banned commercial motorcycles from the highways. The ceremony was at the Sango Park in Ibadan, the state capital. Ajimobi said the scheme is part of his administration’s effort to alleviate poverty and strengthen the transport sector. He said: “The focus of this administration is poverty reduction through our restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda.
Ajimobi said the scheme would create jobs and a more environmental – friendly means of transportation. He said: “Our transportation policy is total. We are at the moment constructing modern terminuses and motor parks that are equipped with conveniences, which will serve as a revenue generation platform for government.
*Published in The Nation Newspaper, on Thursday, 22nd Dec. 2011

CHEVRON DONATES DRUGS, FOOD ITEMS TO HOSPITAL
Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, yesterday, donated drugs and food items worth millions of naira to Ekpan General Hospital, in Uwvie Local Government Area of Delta State with a charge to the management to put the drugs into good use. Presenting the items, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr Femi Odumabo, represented by Mr George Illuwa, said he provision of drugs and other items to the hospital was part of Chevon’s larger efforts to support the state in health care delivery.
He said the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture had a thriving partnership with the state government that has made it possible for the firm to invest in health and social infrastructure, sponsorship of manpower development programmes in the health sector and provision of health facilities. 
*Published in Vanguard Newspaper, on Thursday, 22nd Dec. 2011

NGO TO FETE WIDOWS, ORPHANS
A non-governmental organization, “Lafta 4 D Lonely” founded by Mrs Mayokun Akpoterabor, S organizing free medical examination and lecture for widows on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24th, as part of activities marking this year’s yuletide season.

According to the Coordinator of the NGO, Dr. Dokun Adedeji, the programme is aimed at encouraging the bereaved. He said: “Lafta 4 D Lonely caters for the needy, welfare and well-being of widows, widowers, fatherless, motherless and orphans in the society that in spite their personal tragedies, they can still love and live again to put behind the unfortunate incident. There would be a lot of activities like free medical examination, free ophthalmologic examination, a lecture – Court Your Blessings by Pastor Tony Egbe and other fun-filled activities.” 
*Published in Vanguard Newspaper, on Friday, 23rd Dec. 2011

NIGERIA WESTMINISTER DREDGING AND MARINE LIMITED SET TO TRAIN HEALTH WORKERS ON PREVENTION
As part of its contributions to efforts to halt the havoc malaria continually wrecks on may Nigerian communities, Nigeria Westminister Dredging and Marine Limited, NWDM, in collaboration with an international NGO, Family Care Association, FCA, has trained 200 health workers and 3,016 community agents on malaria prevention and treatment. The training on Malaria prevention and control took place in the riverine communities of Igbokoda, Ugbonlo, Aiyetoro and Illowo in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The Malaria Control and Prevention Project executed under the umbrella of the Nigerian Malaria Control and Prevention Programme was managed by a team of FCA medical professional, volunteers and international coordinator.
*Published in ThisDay Newspaper, on Friday, 23rd Dec. 2011

Monday 19 December 2011

CORPORATE GENEROSITY MUST BE PRECEDED BY JUSTNESS

Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN)  addressed an International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Lagos, advocating that the overarching thought for any company intent on performing CSR should be that the company must be just before it becomes generous.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Lekki, venue of the International Conference jointly hosted by the University of Lagos and Kansas State University with the theme; A Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable Development In Sub- Saharan Africa said CSR should not be a means of assuaging the conscience of looking good in the society, while the corporate donor is busy filing false accounting returns.

According to the Governor, good corporate ethic must necessarily preceded Corporate Social Responsibility. For instance, a company must first pay its due taxes before venturing to philanthropy. No amount of voluntary community service should properly replace statutory tax obligations. A flurry of so called CSR activities would certainly not do, when the same company is killing or harming the people through uncontrolled pollution or substandard products.

The importance of this requirement and the need to pay attention to CSR as is done to the balance sheet is that to do otherwise and prosper through sharp or unethical practices only serve to erode the growth of the community in which the business prospers, Governor Fashola said.

The Governor who also spoke on recent attempts by the National Assembly to make CSR a legal obligation said the approach may have stemmed from the misconceived notion that CSR starts and stops with a company donating to good causes or making money available for the development of its immediate or extended community.

Regarded in this way, CSR becomes at best an additional tax or an act of self-promoting philanthropy. It appears more or less as a tool for propagating the company's image and developing its market, obviously
with a view to boosting its business prosperity.

The Governor noted that this notion fails to capture the real essence of CSR. In my view, this unfortunate trend is, in fact, a corruption of the concept or, to put it mildly, a deviation from the intended purpose of CSR. It limits CSR to a system whereby companies work with local communities to better themselves. In its original conception, to which I would urge a return, CSR connotes corporate conscience, corporate citizenship, or doing business in a wholesome, responsible and sustainable way, Governor Fashola said.

He explained that a good CSR policy should compel businesses to comply with the letter and spirit of the law, to adopt fair trading practices and generally to maintain high ethical standards in their relationships with shareholders and the general public in accordance with accepted norms.

For every corporate organization, CSR should be an inbuilt mechanism that moderates business practices and shuts out the notion of profits at all costs. This is what gave rise to the view that CSR distracts from the
economic role of business, but I think a closer look will reveal that it does not. Indeed, I believe that any Chief Executive of any business who intends to prosper must pay the same if not a higher level of attention o its CSR compliance as he does to the company's balance sheet, he said.

Governor Fashola reasoned that in an environment like Nigeria where poverty and unemployment are big issues, it will take vigilance on the part of all regulatory and law enforcement agencies, the press, civil society organizations and indeed the general public to draw a distinction between CSR and mere advertisement, stressing that where companies are unwilling to make the necessary trade-offs between short term profitability and social or environmental goals, they should not be allowed to lay claims to CSR.

The Lagos State Governor stressed that in Lagos State, a very laudable CSR effort have been witnessed in the area of security, with corporate social organizations contributing billions to the Security Trust Fund such that the Fund has consequently made significant contributions to the reduction of crimes and enhancement of safety in the State.

Over the last few years and particularly in the past few weeks, we have seen corporate interventions in road construction which have been most impactful in adding to the efforts we make on a daily basis to reduce
the deficit of life sustaining public infrastructure that our economic direly requires. Activities such as can only foster a better community and social development which will definitely affect the participating companies positively, the Governor stated

The Lagos State helmsman stressed that the point must be made that extra statutory effort should not and must not be taken for granted because the gesture of doing good must flow from conviction rather than coercion.

Noting that responsive governance would however engender the requisite support, Governor Fashola declared: If I am permitted to say so, I think the commendable level of CSR initiatives that Lagos ate has benefitted from must be taken as proof of the perception the Lagos State Government has been seen to play its part and has remained active to its responsibilities.

Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) who commended the collaboration between the University of Lagos and the Kansas State University said considering the disparity between the two settings, in terms of funding, infrastructure, equipment and other educational facilities, the efforts is necessary pre-condition for the restoration of balance and spread in academic endeavours, which are essential factors for the well-being and advancement of civilization.

The Governor said he would explore the possibilities of such a collaboration taking place between the Lagos State University and the Kansas State University, adding that such collaboration would do the world a lot of good.

Governor Fashola who also fielded questions from some of the participants during the interactive session that followed said the Lagos State Government is socially responsible to the residents of the State.

He explained that the focus of the government should be about making the Nigerian economy work by developing the kind of human capital that the country needs to drive its economy.

He said at some point in her colonial past, Nigeria was just a trading post and needed people like clerks, salesmen to man the various sales points stressing that the curricular of the nation's tertiary institutions were designed to produce those categories of workers.

In addition, He said it is regrettable that till today needs like electricity generation, traffic management and transport engineering which constitute the core of modern day challenges of the nation are not being addressed through the contents of the curriculum of the nation's tertiary institutions which are still churning out graduates in fields where the needs had diminished.

Governor Fashola said Lagos State took the initiative in setting up a School of Transportation at the State University so that it can drive the quest to create manpower that would feed the need of the transportation
sector, stressing that the light rail been constructed will serve as
the laboratory for the students.

The Lagos Sate Governor who also responded to a question on the ongoing Lagos Light Rail project said the project is not the beneficiary of any Corporate Social Responsibility of any organization but is being driven 100 percent by funds provided by the State Government.

He urged Nigerians to have a rethink on their work ethic, citing the examples of Chinese as people who observe only two days as holiday in a year and that despite the advances they have made in the field of technology they as a people are still very committed to any productive process.

The Associate Provost of the Kansas State University Manhattan who is also one of the conference co- chairmen, Dr Myra Gordon said the presentation by Governor Fashola has brought to the fore the need to examine the modus for generosity by organizations because the CSR must permeate the daily operation of the organization.

She said the Corporate Social Responsibility must permeate the daily operation of the organization in terms of the way they manage the people, and the product, adding that CSR has in the proper environment
done a great deal of good.

She gave a commitment of the Kansas State University to collaborate with the Lagos State University in required fields as requested by the Governor.

Speaking earlier, the co-Chairman of the event who is also the President of the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce, Mazi Sam Ohunabunwa described Governor Fashola as a hardworking Governor who has within a short frame of time changed the landscape of Lagos for good.

Mazi Ohnuabunwa who recalled that he was a member of the study group which worked on the blueprint for Lagos for former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was elected in 1999 said Governor Fashola is implementing the blueprint to the letter.

He expressed optimism that the papers to be delivered at the gathering will go a long way in measuring how far and how deep the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility has taken root in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor of the Imo State University, Professor Chidi Ibe said any move to legislate Corporate Social Responsibility is out of place because such a step will not achieve the desired results.

Profesor Ibe who saluted the integrity of Governor Fashola and his tenacity and irrepressibility stated that the attributes have set a model of development not only in Nigeria and Africa but in the developing world.



Friday 16 December 2011

Cisco Launches 2011 CSR Report

Cisco, IT giant has launched her 2011 Report.

SmartPlanet reviews the report, here.

To download the report, click here.

CSR Departments are redundant, Unilever CMO

CSR Departments are redundant; Unilever Chief Marketing Officer, Keith Weed told the annual Marketing Society Conference in London.

Weed said brands should weave CSR into their practices across the company, and that stand-alone CSR departments are an “add-on,” Marketing magazine reports.

Weed added: “The only sustainable growth is consumer-demanded growth. Clearly, in a resourcefully strained world we need to think about environmental and social responsibility.”

He said the company plans to focus its growth efforts heavily on sanitation products because of the projected growth in urban slums.


Weed also said that the manufacture of Unilever products only contributes three percent of the products’ lifetime greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 26 percent for the raw material stage and 68 percent for product use.

Keep track of CSR updates on Twitter.


To keep track of activities around the world on twitter, the following accounts are important to 'follow':



News

CSR NEWS- @CSR NEWS
3BL Media- @3BLMedia
CSR Digest- @csrdigest
CSR Wire – @CSRwire
Ethical Corporation- @ethical_corp
BWCSRNews- @BWCSRNews
CSR Leaders- @CSR_Leaders
CSR International- @CSRint

Africa News - @Files_CSR


By Country/Region


CBSRNews (Canada)- @CBSRNews
CSR The Netherlands- @CSRholland
CSR Africa- @csrafrica
CSR Europe- @CSREuropeOrg
China CSR- @ChinaCSR
CSR Hungary- @csrhungary
ChinaCSR.com- @China_CSR

Nigeria CSR - @Files_CSR


CSR Movements

Goodness500.org- @Goodness500

EthicalCInstitute- @EthicalCInstitute
Development Crossing- @Devcrossing


People

Aman Singh- @ValutCSR
Cindy Esposito- @CJ_Esposito
Laura Badiyan-Eyford- @CSRlaura
Phillip Clawson- @CSRconsultant
James Temple- @CSRjames
Rachelle Jackson- @csrmaven
Taryne Bird- @tarynebird
Catherine Anderson- @SparkySparkler
Leor Rotchild- @PlanetLeor
Matthew Prescott- @MatthewPrescott
Veronica Magan- @v_mag
Megan Strand- @meganstrand
Mike Loons- @MLoons
Susan McPherson- @susanmcp1
Michelle Morgan- @MorganMM
Brigitte Goddemeyer- @subrigavar
David Connor- @davidcoethica
Sandy Skees- @SandySkees
Chris Jarvis- @RealizedWorth
Juan Villamayor- @JuanVillamayor
Beth Holzman- @CSR_Beth
Don Carli- @dcarli

Corporations

MicrosoftCitizenship- @msftcitizenship
Dell CSR Team- @CSRatDell
Intel CSR- @CSR@Intel
SAP CSR- @sapcsr
Ecomagination- @ecomagination


Now, you no longer have an excuse not to be on top of CSR News as they break...

The Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles: a new CSR dawn in Nigeria?



I have followed the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria for over a decade now. In those years, there was never a time I was more captivated than I was with the recent joint statement of commitment by members of the Nigerian Bankers Committee to develop and launch a voluntary set of Nigerian sustainable banking principles. The commitment is a very bold step and a sharp departure from the view of CSR as corporate philanthropy in corporate Nigeria. According to the public announcement of the commitment, which is here paraphrased, the principles will include an over-arching set of guidelines relating to the banks’ direct impact on communities and the environment as a result of their business operations; as well as the indirect impacts on communities and the environment arising from their lending and investment activities. The principles will also offer sector-specific guidelines, with priority on oil and gas; power (with a focus on renewable energy); agriculture and related water resource issues. Finally, the banking principles will include a commitment to raising awareness and developing meaningful and lasting local capacity to manage emerging environmental and social risks and opportunities within their internal operations, as well as to relevant financial sector government agencies, learning institutions and service providers (see the Financial Times, Monday November 21, 2011 for details).

Prior to this announcement, CSR amongst Nigerian banks has mainly focussed on corporate community investments or corporate giving – which has been the dominant understanding of CSR in Nigeria. This has included donations to schools, hospitals, local communities, prisons and orphanages; construction of roads and decoration of public spaces; economic empowerment and poverty alleviation. Whilst these are laudable corporate activities, they appear to distort the true and broader meaning of CSR. The emphasis on corporate philanthropy gives the broad CSR agenda a poor characterisation and invariably an underserved negative reputation.

It is a truism that different firms operate from different mindsets and worldviews; and these, to a large extent, influence and determine their strategies. On one extreme, a profit-dominated corporate mindset is most likely to ignore societal expectations of businesses as long as the bottom line looks good. It is a good strategy for such a firm, no matter how short-lived. On the other extreme, the society-oriented corporate mindset will tend to evaluate the success or otherwise of its strategies from their overall or systemic impact on the firm, employees, and the society at large – a mindset not common in the Nigerian private sector; possibly because of the dominant view that “…the business of business is business”; and as such, business profitability is incompatible with ‘doing the right thing’.

The true and broader goal of a genuine CSR orientation is to contribute to a better society through creative and innovative entrepreneurship. This perspective of CSR is vociferously reflected in the Bankers Committee’s public commitment: “As leaders in the Nigerian financial sector, we are uniquely positioned to further economic growth and development in Nigeria through our regulatory, lending and investment activities across a diversity of segments and sectors of the Nigerian economy…. We believe that such an approach, one of sustainable banking, is consistent with our individual and collective business objectives, and can stimulate further economic growth and opportunity as well as enhance innovation and competitiveness” (Financial Times, Monday November 21, 2011).

The current global financial crisis and the threats of globalisation and global warming are, no doubt, the tipping points that will change the global financial services sector.  These changes will include new regulatory and governance regimes, as well as new market opportunities. The quest for sustainability – i.e. the consideration of environmental, social and governance issues in investment and financial decisions – is beginning to redefine the global competitive landscape. As such, the global market is shifting and business models are adjusting to meet the demands of the new world economy. Most global financial sector players, like Goldman Sachs through its GS Sustain are beginning to take advantage of the new opportunities. Sustainability is the now and the future, and Africa presents enormous market opportunities in this new world economy.

But for CSR – as sustainable business strategies – to be successful, the larger society has to provide the enabling environment for it to thrive. For example, if a firm tries to reduce its negative impacts, these efforts can only be sustained where customers also accept applicable adjustment in prices, NGOs help make standards visible, and governments have disclosure rules that affect competitors. In such an enabling environment, CSR affords firms and managers the opportunity to adjust their means of production in a way that gives them competitive advantage and enhances their long term sustainability. These adjustments are expected to enhance social benefits and reduce social costs simultaneously.

By implication, the dominant view of CSR as corporate philanthropy amongst most Nigerian businesses is being seriously challenged. And the Bankers Committee has set a laudable step for other sector leaders to graciously emulate. The idea of CSR as corporate philanthropy is the most basic and lowest expression of CSR. There is a need for most Nigerian businesses to progress from this narrow and basic understanding of CSR to the understanding of CSR as a holistic business culture – i.e. “how” profit is made and used. In this regard, the often touted corporate social responsibility credentials of Nigerian banks may include the need to assess the footprints of their strategies on the moral consciousness of the Nigerian society.

It is obvious that we are yet to see the heydays of sustainable banking in Nigeria. However, I am cautiously optimistic that given the innovation and institutional entrepreneurship that revolutionised this sector’s customer services in the 1990s, the financial services industry could revolutionise the understanding and practice of CSR in Nigeria and indeed within Africa. Nonetheless, the industry leaders should ensure that they mean what they say and say what they mean by adhering to their public commitment. Their words should be their bond. Otherwise, they would have inadvertently set themselves up for failure, given that the reputation risk bar is now higher than ever.  The commitment, whilst laudable, has also forearmed interested industry stakeholders. So the least expected of the Bankers Committee is to honour its commitment with dignity. This is pertinent, because today’s successful strategies may become tomorrow’s pitfalls; and only organizations with foresight and integrity can take advantage of this, even whilst they grapple with today’s challenges.

*Published in The Nigerian Guardian Newspapers, on Thursday, December 8, 2011.

***Dr. Amaeshi is the Director of Sustainable Business Initiative at the University of Edinburgh Business School, UK; a visiting faculty at Cranfield School of Management and the Lagos Business School, respectively. Email the writer here

Recognizing CSR as a core business practice - Examples by International Media organisations.

In Jonathan Branco's Recognizing CSR as a core business practice, some media organisations who have taken CSR & Sustainability issues seriously are highlighted. I hope you find this useful and informative.

...it was announced this past week that Reuters was doing away with its “Green Business” page. An announcement on the company blog had this to say:
“One of the goals of the sustainability movement is to integrate its objectives into all facets of business. In this light, Reuters.com is ahead of the game as we enter a time when solar panel companies are mainstream enough to be on the regular business page and not siphoned off to a private green niche.
Of course, green companies, technology and economies are not going away. At Reuters.com we embrace this opportunity to bring the business of the environment into the fold of the rest of the site, and welcome you to continue your dialogue with us as we branch out to yet another new chapter.”

Interestingly enough, during the same week, Bloomberg announced that it will be launching a sustainability page on its website. Meanwhile, the Guardian in the UK is one of the few (if not only) mainstream media outlets that has specific sections covering both international development issues and the world of social enterprise. However, Reuters is the first media company that I’m aware of to take this step towards integration.

Perhaps we are moving towards a new era of social and environmental stewardship amongst companies big and small. We are seeing the rise of interest in social enterprise amongst young people (look at how many MBA programs are now offering this type of focus) and it appears that some large companies are now integrating these initiatives into mainstream processes. It will be interesting to see where CSR 2.0 takes us.

Read the entire article, here

SURVEY ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN NIGERIA

This survey is created and distributed by ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited and has been designed to determine the status of Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria. No doubt, Companies are increasingly recognizing the strategic importance of building business practices that create sustainable economies, environments and societies.

In the business world, Corporate Social Responsibility is an indispensable tool for corporate legitimacy and competitive advantage. For that purpose companies need to communicate their CSR strategy through an effective and credible media platform. The survey contains relevant topics of interest in the field of CSR including general questions about the companies as well as CSR specific questions about the past, present and future of their CSR activities.

This survey is to be completed by professionals and/or those responsible for the implementation of CSR/Social Performance/CSI, etc within their organizations. The results will enable us to ascertain the current status of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability issues in Nigeria. The questionnaire contains quantitative as well as qualitative questions. The data will be analyzed by a team of research experts and made available in a report titled ‘THE STATE OF CSR IN NIGERIA: 2010/2011 ANNUAL REVIEW’. The report will be available in mid 2012,precisely at the Africa CEO Roundtable and Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility in June 2012.

ThistlePraxis Consulting hopes that this exercise would set an initial benchmark and a platform for dialogue with companies on improvement of their CSR policies and related performance targets in the long run. We are aware of the limitations of this survey and while this survey aims to gain an overview of companies’ CSR polices and related measuring systems via verified self-reporting questionnaires, it does not seek to assess impacts and to make judgements on whether the impact of each CSR initiative is sufficient or inadequate, particularly on issues involving the environment or labour rights.

Although we will not survey and evaluate criticisms that the same company may have faced from media and civil society groups such as labour, environment and consumer organizations, we do hope that this research will facilitate comprehensive dialogue on both positive and negative issues regarding corporate responsibility.

We simply wish to draw companies’ attention to increased global awareness on corporate accountability, transparency and international best practices.

The deadline for data to be collected will be 15 March 2012.

Take the survey by clicking here...it will only take a few minutes!

For further details please contact:
Emilia Asim-Ita, emilia@thistlepraxisconsulting.com;
Or
info@thistlepraxisconsulting.com

NB: Individuals who fill the survey between December 1-26, 2011 will get a FREE 1-Year subscription of CSR Files. Simply take the survey and send an email to: csrfiles@thistlepraxisconsulting.com with proof (if you do, this will be easy)


CSR NEWS SUMMARY ISSUE 1


FATE FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 11TH ANNIVERSARY, HONOURS COSHARIS BOSS, OTHERS.
Fate Foundation celebrated its 11th annual entrepreneurial awards with Cosmas Maduka, president/chief executive, Coscharis Group, emerging as FATE Model Entrepreneur (FMEA) award winner this year 2011. Other awardees were Uba Adamu, managing director, Native Butchers Global Resources, who emerged as the FATE Alumni Model Entrepreneur (FAME) award winner, and Oluyinka Alawode, BusinessDay Newspaper correspondent, the winner of the FATE SME Journalist Award, which is in recognition of the most outstanding small business reporter in the year.
It was also a graduation ceremony for the entrepreneurs that had successfully completed entrepreneurial programmes at the Foundation. Fate Foundation is a private sector led not – for – profit organisation created in March 2000. The organisation’s philosophy is that by equipping enterprising Nigerians with skills, tools, networks, these individuals can create successful businesses that will in turn offer gainful employment to teeming masses of the unemployed in Nigeria. Apart from the Fate Emerging Entrepreneurs Programme (EEP) and Aspiring Entrepreneurs Programme (AEP), Fate Foundation also now has a new division which is the Institute for Venture Design (IVD) with a bold vision to increase prosperity and wealth creation in Nigeria through entrepreneurship and innovation.
 *Published in The Businessday Newspaper, on Monday, 12th Dec. 2011
  
EXPERTS CALL ON MEDIA TO PROMOTE CSR
Three experts have called on the media to ensure the development and Compliance of businesses to the international principles of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. The experts which include: Oladimeji Bello, a CSR & Sustainability Expert from the United Kingdom; Ini Onuk, Lead Consultant, ThistlePraxis Consulting and Toni-Kan Onwordi, Managing Partner, Radi8 re-iterated this whilst facilitating sessions on a range of topics in a competence development initiative tagged, Effective CSR Reporting for Media Professionals. The training which was organised by an Assessment and Strategy firm, ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited and held in Lagos, Nigeria recently was put together to build and strengthen human capacity for the Nigerian and African media industry on corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting. 

Participants, who were selected from different media houses in Nigeria after an application process, expressed their satisfaction and gratitude for the opportunity to engage with their counterparts on contemporary practices in CSR and Sustainability. Topics discussed extensively include: The Future of CSR, Understanding CSR, PR and CSR, PR and Crisis Management, CSR in Africa, Writing Reviews, and Reviewing CSR Reports amongst other issues and taught with videos and group assignments. According to the organisers, the expectations for organising the training were met. 'We couldn't have done this training at a better time. We are happy our objectives have been met and the participants are enlightened and better equipped to report CSR more effectively'.
*Published in The Guardian Newspaper, on Monday, 12th Dec. 2011
 
DANGOTE SHOWERS N600 MILLION ON KANO WOMEN, YOUTH
Alhaji Aliko Dangote has donated N600 million across Kano state. The donation, which took place at the indoor sports complex of the Abacha stadium at the weekend, was at the launch of the Community Re-orientation Committee, of the government of Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the state. In his remark while presenting the cheque, Dangote said it is in partnership with the government to empower women and youth in the state. He praised the governor for his effort in transforming the state since he assumed office, adding that plans were on by his foundation to build the best hospital in Africa in Kano especially the area of diagnosis while promising to invest heavily in cattle farming for the purpose of milk production.

The president of the Dangote Group also announced that the foundation laying ceremony of 500 room students hostel at Kano State University of Technology, Wudil to be performed by the governor in a fortnight. Kwankwaso on his part thanked Dangote for the gesture and promised that the money will reach the beneficiaries. He explained that one thousand women from each of the 44 local governments will benefit from N450 million meant for their skills training and subsequent take off grant after the training while 150 youth will benefit from the N150 million which will be given as loans after they are trained on cattle farming.
*Published in The Daily Sun  Newspaper, on Tuesday, 13th Dec. 2011

FG PARTNERS C’RIVER ON ORPHANS PROJECT
As part of National response to address the plight of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), the Federal Government is partnering with the Cross River State Government to fast track the implementation of its OVC projects in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country. To achieve this, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has handed over an OVC Centre to the Cross River State Government which is to serve as a coordinating unit for all OVC activities in the South-South zone when fully completed.
Handing over the Project in Calabar, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Elizabeth Emuren restated the Federal Government’s commitment to vigorously pursue the implementation of the National Plan of Action on over 17.5 million Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the country. In addition to this, the Permanent Secretary pointed out that the project will further fast track the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target on child survival and development in Nigeria by the year 2015.

Speaking further on the project, Mrs. Emuren said when fully completed, the Centre is expected to have components such as Administrative block, Dormitory, Classroom block, Kitchen/Dining hall, Clinic, Library and Computer room. Other components include Worship centres (Church and Mosque), Playground, Gatehouse, Perimeter fencing and a Generator house. “The Centre is to serve as a coordinating unit for all OVC activities in the South-South zone and also provide some health and educational services for the children with reports regularly sent to the Ministry to guide in the planning and execution of future programmes and projects on child development in the country”, she added.
Published in Compass  Newspaper, on Thursday, 15th Dec. 2011

DANGOTE TO SPONSOR CALABAR CHILDREN’S CARNIVAL
One of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates, Dangote Group, has picked the title sponsorship of the Children’s Carnival segment of Carnival Calabar. With this development, henceforth, the Children’s Carnival will be known as Dangote Carnival Calabar Children’s Carnival. Executive Secretary, Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mrs. Elenda Osima-Dokubo, stated that with the offering, the profile of the Carnival Calabar will continue to blossom.

Her words: “Dangote was with us last year for the first time; they saw the value they got from their sponsorship last year.  So this year, they have decided to partner us in a bigger way by taking the title sponsorship of the children’s carnival. “We are quite happy with this and will ensure that they get maximum value for their sponsorship.” Dokubo said that with the development, the Children’s Carnival will be more colourful, bigger and even better. The Children’s Carnival takes place on December 26 every year as a part of the three days of Carnival Calabar activities, explaining that the first is the Carnival King’s and Queen’s competition which takes place on December 25 and the cultural parade and children’s carnival that takes place on the 26 and the adult carnival popularly referred to as “Africa’s Biggest Street Party” which takes place on December 27, every year.
Published in The Daily Independent Newspaper, on Thursday, 16th Dec. 2011

LG HARPS ON CSR VIA SCHOLARSHIP
Hard work and diligence early this week paid – off, when LG, in demonstration of its tag line; ‘good life’ awarded scholarship to 10 students in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, based on their grade points of 4.0 to 5.0. The opportunities were given to students in 400 and 500 levels. The award of scholarship to Nigerian students by LG Electronics is no doubt a demonstration of the company’s belief in the abundant human talents and resources in the country waiting for opportunities to be explored and discovered to better the country through enhanced human capacity development on the platform of education
Speaking at the scholarship award presentation in Unilag, the Managing Director, LG Electronics, West Africa Operations, it is our core belief that education is the bedrock of any society. The more qualitative the education of a nation is, the more functional its systems and institutions would be. This can only be achieved through investing in genuine and natural human talents in the educational sector
Published in ThisDay  Newspaper, on Friday, 16th Dec. 2011

EQUPPING YOUTHS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE 
The MTN Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to look for more ways of empowering youths by providing them with platforms which will enable them compete favourably with their peers from other parts of the world. The Chairman, MTN Foundation, Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu, made the declaration at the sixth annual Donors’ Appreciation Concert organised by Musical School of Nigeria (MUSON)  for the MTN Foundation.

The occasion was yet another opportunity to enjoy beautiful musical renditions by a group of very talented students while it also afforded the MTN Foundation the opportunity to take stock of what it has been able to achieve in partnership with the Musical School of Nigeria
Published in The National Mirror  Newspaper, on Friday, 16th Dec. 2011

NESTLE EXTENDS CSR TO BUILDING SOCCER STARS 
About 2000 Nigerian youths benefited from Nestle’s Milo Football Clinic, held in Lagos at the weekend. This, the company said, was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to the country. The football clinic was organised to teach the young aspiring footballers the basic technique and rudiment of the game. The football clinic also had former Nigeria goalkeeper, Peter Rufai and Paulo Cardoso, an international football scout from Portugal, as instructors.

Speaking at the event, the Category Brand Manager, Nestle Milo, Mr. Olufemi Akintola said the initiative was meant to develop and enhance Nigerian youths. He added that the football clinic had been taken to Enugu and Ilorin respectively to help encourage, nurture and also groom talents. Also, Rufai commended Nestle and its management for supporting and developing the youths through the football clinic. He urged Nigerians to support the initiative, which he believed, would lead to the development of the economy.
Published in ThisDay Newspaper, on Wednesday, 14th Dec. 2011

ETISALAT TEACHERS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR OYO AND KADUNA STATES COME TO A CLOSE
Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with the British Council recently concluded the Teacher Training program in Oyo and Kaduna states with over fifty empowered teachers, preparing to be Cambridge University-accredited instructors. Etisalat’s Teacher Training Program is an ongoing initiative designed to retrain teachers of secondary schools across Nigeria’s different geo-political zones, on different subjects.

The just concluded training focused on strengthening English Language teaching skills in Nigeria and is aimed at training teachers in Oyo, Kaduna and Rivers states to become Cambridge certified teachers through an examination process called the Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) examination.
Published on ThistlePraxis Consulting Website, on Thursday, 15th Dec. 2011
http://www.thistlepraxisconsulting.com/welcome/news/item/313-etisalat-teachers-training-program-for-oyo-and-kaduna-states-come-to-a-close.html 


CSR NEWS SUMMARY PREMIERES

Every week on this blog, we will upload a summary of all CSR activities published in Nigerian Newspapers.  This is a first-of-its-kind service from committed media professionals who participated in the 'Effective CSR Reporting for Media Professionals' training exercise in Lagos, Nigeria which held in November 2011. 

This initiative is monitored and supported by ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited - a fast-rising Assessments and Strategy firm in Nigeria.

Thursday 8 December 2011

The Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles: a new CSR dawn in Nigeria?



I have followed the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria for over a decade now. In those years, there was never a time I was more captivated than I was with the recent joint statement of commitment by members of the Nigerian Bankers Committee to develop and launch a voluntary set of Nigerian sustainable banking principles. The commitment is a very bold step and a sharp departure from the view of CSR as corporate philanthropy in corporate Nigeria. According to the public announcement of the commitment, which is here paraphrased, the principles will include an over-arching set of guidelines relating to the banks’ direct impact on communities and the environment as a result of their business operations; as well as the indirect impacts on communities and the environment arising from their lending and investment activities. The principles will also offer sector-specific guidelines, with priority on oil and gas; power (with a focus on renewable energy); agriculture and related water resource issues. Finally, the banking principles will include a commitment to raising awareness and developing meaningful and lasting local capacity to manage emerging environmental and social risks and opportunities within their internal operations, as well as to relevant financial sector government agencies, learning institutions and service providers (see the Financial Times, Monday November 21, 2011 for details).

Prior to this announcement, CSR amongst Nigerian banks has mainly focussed on corporate community investments or corporate giving – which has been the dominant understanding of CSR in Nigeria. This has included donations to schools, hospitals, local communities, prisons and orphanages; construction of roads and decoration of public spaces; economic empowerment and poverty alleviation. Whilst these are laudable corporate activities, they appear to distort the true and broader meaning of CSR. The emphasis on corporate philanthropy gives the broad CSR agenda a poor characterisation and invariably an underserved negative reputation.

It is a truism that different firms operate from different mindsets and worldviews; and these, to a large extent, influence and determine their strategies. On one extreme, a profit-dominated corporate mindset is most likely to ignore societal expectations of businesses as long as the bottom line looks good. It is a good strategy for such a firm, no matter how short-lived. On the other extreme, the society-oriented corporate mindset will tend to evaluate the success or otherwise of its strategies from their overall or systemic impact on the firm, employees, and the society at large – a mindset not common in the Nigerian private sector; possibly because of the dominant view that “…the business of business is business”; and as such, business profitability is incompatible with ‘doing the right thing’.

The true and broader goal of a genuine CSR orientation is to contribute to a better society through creative and innovative entrepreneurship. This perspective of CSR is vociferously reflected in the Bankers Committee’s public commitment: “As leaders in the Nigerian financial sector, we are uniquely positioned to further economic growth and development in Nigeria through our regulatory, lending and investment activities across a diversity of segments and sectors of the Nigerian economy…. We believe that such an approach, one of sustainable banking, is consistent with our individual and collective business objectives, and can stimulate further economic growth and opportunity as well as enhance innovation and competitiveness” (Financial Times, Monday November 21, 2011).

The current global financial crisis and the threats of globalisation and global warming are, no doubt, the tipping points that will change the global financial services sector.  These changes will include new regulatory and governance regimes, as well as new market opportunities. The quest for sustainability – i.e. the consideration of environmental, social and governance issues in investment and financial decisions – is beginning to redefine the global competitive landscape. As such, the global market is shifting and business models are adjusting to meet the demands of the new world economy. Most global financial sector players, like Goldman Sachs through its GS Sustain are beginning to take advantage of the new opportunities. Sustainability is the now and the future, and Africa presents enormous market opportunities in this new world economy.

But for CSR – as sustainable business strategies – to be successful, the larger society has to provide the enabling environment for it to thrive. For example, if a firm tries to reduce its negative impacts, these efforts can only be sustained where customers also accept applicable adjustment in prices, NGOs help make standards visible, and governments have disclosure rules that affect competitors. In such an enabling environment, CSR affords firms and managers the opportunity to adjust their means of production in a way that gives them competitive advantage and enhances their long term sustainability. These adjustments are expected to enhance social benefits and reduce social costs simultaneously.

By implication, the dominant view of CSR as corporate philanthropy amongst most Nigerian businesses is being seriously challenged. And the Bankers Committee has set a laudable step for other sector leaders to graciously emulate. The idea of CSR as corporate philanthropy is the most basic and lowest expression of CSR. There is a need for most Nigerian businesses to progress from this narrow and basic understanding of CSR to the understanding of CSR as a holistic business culture – i.e. “how” profit is made and used. In this regard, the often touted corporate social responsibility credentials of Nigerian banks may include the need to assess the footprints of their strategies on the moral consciousness of the Nigerian society.

It is obvious that we are yet to see the heydays of sustainable banking in Nigeria. However, I am cautiously optimistic that given the innovation and institutional entrepreneurship that revolutionised this sector’s customer services in the 1990s, the financial services industry could revolutionise the understanding and practice of CSR in Nigeria and indeed within Africa. Nonetheless, the industry leaders should ensure that they mean what they say and say what they mean by adhering to their public commitment. Their words should be their bond. Otherwise, they would have inadvertently set themselves up for failure, given that the reputation risk bar is now higher than ever.  The commitment, whilst laudable, has also forearmed interested industry stakeholders. So the least expected of the Bankers Committee is to honour its commitment with dignity. This is pertinent, because today’s successful strategies may become tomorrow’s pitfalls; and only organizations with foresight and integrity can take advantage of this, even whilst they grapple with today’s challenges.

*Published in The Nigerian Guardian Newspapers, on Thursday, December 8, 2011.

***Dr. Amaeshi is the Director of Sustainable Business Initiative at the University of Edinburgh Business School, UK; a visiting faculty at Cranfield School of Management and the Lagos Business School, respectively. Email the writer here