Friday 27 January 2012

CSR NEW SUMMARY ISSUE 5

diamond bank inaugurates naija daimonds

Diamond Bank Plc has inaugurated the season two of Naija Diamonds, a television documentary series showcasing the heroic exploits of 36 Nigerians who continue to impact positively on the society through their exemplary behaviours. According to a statement by the bank, the documentary which will be airing for 13 weeks is created by Inspire Africa, and is sponsored by Diamond Bank. Season one of Naija Diamonds, also sponsored by Diamond Bank, and was aired for six weeks in 2010 as part of activities to mark the 50th Independence Anniversary of the country.
The statement quoted the producer, Mo Abudu, as saying, “Naija Diamonds aims to showcase unsung heroes and world class Nigerians whose lifestyles and values serve as a standard for generations to come. It is a celebration of Nigeria’s everyday people who have done something to change and positively challenge their situations. No one notices them, they are never celebrated by the media or the majority but they exist. They are the people who stand up and take a positive stand.
Published in Punch Newspaper on 23rd Jan. 2012


FIDELITY BANK EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES, ORPHANAGES.

Fidelity Bank Plc has improved its Corporate Social Responsibility profile by embarking on projects to support communities in which it does business and assisting the needy in the society.
A statement by the bank said some projects were executed through the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme, an arm of the bank’s CSR practice.

Presenting 10 wheel chairs and a large quantity of food items to the inmates of Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, a school for people with disabilities such as blindness, deafness, autism and paralysis, the Branch Manager, Fadeyi Branch, Mr. Fola Bakare, said the donation was part of the bank’s policy to give back to the community where it does business. According to him, it is the policy of the bank that the branches must establish a cordial and symbiotic relationship with its host communities.
Published in Punch Newspaper on 23rd Jan. 2012


There may be more uprisings and social disorders around the world if global efforts are not made towards creating about 600 million new jobs in the next 10 years, the annual report on global employment by the International Labour Organization (ILO) has stated.

The report, which was obtained by The Guardian from the Geneva, Switzerland headquarters of the global job watch body, explained that the new jobs are urgently needed to guarantee sustainable growth and maintain social cohesion. The document, entitled, “Global Employment Trends 2012: Preventing a deeper job crisis”, said after three years of continuous crisis conditions in global labour markets and against the prospect of a further deterioration of economic activity, there is a backlog of global unemployment of 200 million
Published in Daily Times Newspaper on 24th Jan. 2012


As part of its efforts to promote Nigerian virtues to global limelight, Diamond Bank, in conjunction with Inspire Africa, has launched the season two of Naija Diamonds, a TV documentary series showcasing the heroic exploits of 36 Nigerians who continue to impact positively on society through their exemplary behaviours. The documentary series which will be airing for 13 weeks on AIT network on Fridays at 9:30pm and African Magic at 7:00pm on Saturdays, was created by Inspire Africa, and is sponsored by Diamond Bank.   

According to the producer, Mo Abudu, “Naija Diamonds aims to showcase unsung heroes and world class Nigerians whose lifestyles and values serve as a standard for generations to come. It is a celebration of Nigeria’s everyday people who have done something to change and positively challenge their situations. No one notices them, they are never celebrated by the media or the majority, but they exist. They are the people who stand up and take a positive stand. They are our unsung heroes (NaijaDiamonds)”.
Published in Tribune Newspaper on 24th Jan. 2011.

EKITI TO BOOST AGRIC WITH N1B LOAN FACILITY

Ekiti State government has said it has received N1b agric loan facility facilitated by the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the First Bank of Nigeria Plc. The state government had in December last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the banks to receive the loan facility.

The Executive Director, Public Sector (South) of the First Bank, Mr. Urum Eke, who was on a courtesy call on the governor in Ado Ekiti, disclosed that funds for the loan have been received and are awaiting disbursement to benefiting farmers, stressing the need for both the state government and the bank to expedite efforts on how to fast-track agric development in the state.
Published in Guardian Newspaper on 25th Jan. 2011.

STERLING BANK PARTNERS HARVARD ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Sterling Bank Plc on Monday said it had gone into partnership with the world renowned Harvard Business School in a bid to devise models and implementation guidelines that would ultimately benefit the bank’s customers. A statement from the bank said after an intensive four month’s exercise to review the Nigerian banking industry’s retail growth strategies in collaboration with specialists and other industry stakeholders, an array of valuable initiatives were unearthed for the institution to harness and leapfrog its way to the top end of the retail banking segment.
It said, “Customers and other stakeholders of the bank are surely in for better times ahead as the institution is not only better positioned to serve, but it’s quest for continued improvement and excellence can only result in greater joy for all involved.
Published in Punch Newspaper on 25th Jan. 2012


President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has stated his determination to create wealth through job creation in the country. Speaking at the weekend, Dangote assured that he would continue to invest heavily in the manufacturing sector with a view to creating wealth and empowering the youth.

Noting that Nigerian youths are hard working when given the opportunity, he said he would continue to invest heavily in the country and encourage youths to demonstrate their innate abilities through effective empowerment.
Published in Nigerian Compass Newspaper on 26th Jan. 2011
           
ERRING CONTRACTORS WILL BE PROSECUTED, NDDC WARNS
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Christian Oboh, gave a warning to erring contractors engaged by the commission. He charged them to either perform or be prosecuted. To those that have achieved 70 per cent in project execution.

The marching order from the NDDC boss only amplifies an earlier presidential directive. President Goodluck Jonathan had warned that his administration would order law enforcement agencies to apprehend contractors identified as having defaulted after receiving funds to execute NDDC projects. The president's warning came after he received the report of the NDDC Presidential Monitoring Committee late last year.
Published in Vanguard Newspaper on 26th Jan. 2011
NDDC TRAINED WELDERS RECEIVE RECOGNITION
A total of 91 Niger Delta youths trained by the Niger Delta Development Commission in welding and drilling technology in Turkey have been certified international welding specialists and drilling technicians. Forty of them were trained in comprehensive international welding inspectors’ course while 51 benefited from the safety quality and maintenance training.
The programme is as a result of the partnership arrangement between the commission and the Nigerian Institute of Welding. Presenting the certificates, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Christian Oboh, said the training was in furtherance of the commission’s capacity development programme designed to make youths of Niger Delta employable in the oil and gas industry.
Published in Daily Independent Newspaper on 26th Jan. 2011

POOR REGULATION ENCOURAGES COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS

Poor regulation of the foods and drinks industry and consumers’ ignorance of the dangers inherent in the consumption of counterfeit products are two major factors promoting fake products in the Nigeria market, stakeholders have stated.

Speaking at a workshop organized by Guinness Nigeria and Diageo Brands in Lagos, to train and develop the skills of field operatives of law enforcement agencies in the detection of counterfeit spirit and beer products, Deputy Director Enforcements (Spirits) of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mr Sherif Olagunju, lamented that most consumers fall victims of fake  products because of their rush for cheap products.
Published in This Day Newspaper on 27th Jan. 2011

MAKING SURE THAT SURE WORKS FOR THE COMMON GOOD

To soften opposition to subsidy removal, President Goodluck Jonathan proposed some major policy initiatives covering eight major areas of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment (SURE) Programme. The first component, the social net, is the subject of this analysis. Safety net programmes must be carefully woven to address the problems of poverty, unemployment, poor public infrastructure and human development.

Two major social Safety net programmes are, a planned Labour – Intensive Public Works (LIPW) and a Health – Focused Conditional Cash Transfer (HCCT), to prevent people from falling further into poverty
Published in This Day Newspaper on 27th Jan. 2011

UNITAR TRAINS 500 RIVERS YOUTH FOR NIGERIA CONTENT

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research has trained about 500 youths from River State in relevant skills to operate in the Oil and Gas industry, ahead of the looming passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

Dr. Larry Boms, the Head / Representative of UNITAR explained that the skilled man power development training given to the youths would make them take advantage of Nigerian Content when it eventually takes – off.
Published in National Mirror Newspaper on 27th Jan. 2011

Thursday 26 January 2012

Fuel Subsidy - It’s not about you or me, it’s about Nigeria!


By Tony O. Elumelu, MFR

In late December, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan advised on the need for the removal of PMS subsidy, and stated that the government was still in consultations with stakeholders and was looking at an unspecified date (underground networks said April 2012) for its implementation.

All of a sudden, it was decided that we were not to be given an opportunity to have a Happy New Year as the rug was swept from under our feet, suddenly and fuel prices leaped from N65 per litre to N141 per litre, in the bigger metropolis like Lagos and Abuja, and up to over N200 per litre in other areas…with no buy-in from the majority who had elected the government in place, no clear communications as to the benefits of these steps, and no clear cut path on how we were to benefit from this.

Moving on for a moment, Mr Dele Momodu, in his article as published on ThisDay, titled “Who’s Misleading President Jonathan” complains that “the problem with our leaders is an acquisitive syndrome and a demonic addiction of greed, selfishness, myopia, wickedness, arrogance, and all other adjectives we can find in the lexicon.” Agreed that this is a deplorable state of events. However, is The Ovation, a magazine whose sole aim is to glorify this greed, myopia and arrogance, not owned by Chief Dele Momodu? Was it not he who famously went to General Sani Abacha’s opulent home to do an exclusive on the family?

I respected “We Shall Start Stoning The Economists In Official Corridors.”

Mallam Muhammadu Buhari a lot, but when he lost, his motives for running for President became questionable when he refused to place the welfare of the Nigerian people whom he wished to serve above his personal ambition to be President. At a time when he could have used his influence to quell unrest, his ego took over, and hundreds of Nigerians were killed in cold blood.

The House of Representatives called an emergency meeting and arrived at a motion advising the Federal Executive to temporarily reverse fuel price to N65 in order to allow room for more deliberations amongst stakeholders. If that were the singular problem being addressed, I would have considered it a victory. The more important motion to go after the identified industry looters was shot down by the house. How do you fight corruption without fighting the root cause? Is it because, according to a statement attributed to Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on the online platform, Elombah, “this thing is a scam…that…cannot be stopped because the entire controls have been compromised[?]”What is truly going on here?

The Lagos Chair of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mr Sunday Oginni, recently spoke on Channels television and it made sense when he said the unions were distrustful of the government’s subsidy re-investment committee (SURE) because only 3 years ago, the same argument was made for diesel/AGO subsidy removal with no tangible progress made from the monies saved. This argument made a lot of sense until it occurred to me that the unions had not been doing their jobs properly for allowing that to continue. If you, as an individual, were promised homes and cars if you would make a sacrifice, wouldn’t you a) make sure it is a signed undertaking b) set in place recognisable milestones, and c) follow up on agreed milestones at the requisite time? The average man on the street is beginning to get the impression that Labour Unions are putting up a charade for the average man. I may be wrong, though.

I was also surprised to read that former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, through a statement made available by his spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, believes that the “sole purpose of government is for the good of the people and not to create hardship.” He really thinks that? Then why did he increase the fuel price so many times during his tenure? Why…. Or is he repentant?

I watched Mr Fola Adeola on Channels during demonstrations, and he views were as objective as could be in a situation like this. He said something along the lines that indeed government has the right to implement policies, but that it was also their duty to positively engage and educate its polity on the benefits of the decision or policy to be implemented. Now, didn’t he make a logical point without obviously pursuing self-aggrandisement? After all, we are running a democratic system of government, are we not?

I give credit to Channels Television, amongst others, for dispassionately and bravely covering the on-going saga while the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) continues to prove that it is a government propaganda machine. What happened to the Public Relations theory of Development Media, which we evidently need in this nation?

Lessons We Need to Learn

It is not about any of us; it is about sustained progress of our nation, Nigeria. It is not about PMS subsidy renewal, it is about ethics and good governance. It is not about our political system (socialism, communism, etc, continually fail), it is about our VALUES SYSTEM. If anyone wishes to run for public office, they need to remove personal and political sentiments and ambitions in order to objectively guide this nation. This is not a time to fight personal grievances; but a time to fight for the united good. We want the basic amenities of life, food, security, water, electricity, good schools – we do not want hand outs!

Even though Mallam Sanusi Lamido and Dr Ngozi Iweala have proffered valid arguments for subsidy removal, in a nation where the government has constantly reneged on promises, it is understandable that people are ultimately hesitant. However, I strongly believe that the renewed interest of the mass of educated and intellectual Nigerians, both at home abroad, would curtail any planned shenanigans of the complicit parties in both the public and private sectors should the government go ahead with the petroleum subsidy removal.

This subsidy-gate scandal has made it all the more apparent that the issue of corruption is not the singular forte of the government alone. It is the questionable value systems of the people of our nations, starting with the man on the street, to private businesses and government parastatals. Our values have degenerated to the point where people have adopted selective conscientiousness in order to perpetrate atrocities both big and small. By the way, did you notice that the government is not an ‘evil force’? It is made up of individuals who have families, friends, fears and desires. It is made up of you and me. And the quality of governance is made up of the choices that we make.

We should, every one of us, bear in mind that it is our collective social responsibility to attain and retains sustained economic, political and social growth. Let us responsibly Occupy Nigeria!

* Published in the CSR-in-Action Blog on 19th January, 2012.
*** Tony O. Elumelu, MFR (Nigeria), Chairman of Heirs Holdings. He is also the Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africa-based, African-funded not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and celebration of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship across Africa.



CSR is about being Responsible


By Dr. Tunde Ewedemi

Philanthropy is about being benevolent, CSR is about being responsible. 
CSR goes beyond having a “giving” culture; it goes as far as saying this is our responsibility and if we are a “responsible” organisation we have will do something about it, in a profitable way of course.
 

Public relations approach to CSR is the act of developing strategies that will help our target audience to see us as a good and understanding organisation. Nigeria has also caught the “branding” bug and this trend is clouding the real purpose and thinking behind CSR. Branding looks at the target audience and communicates the corporate message using various media, while CSR talks to the corporate stakeholders and devise solutions to problems or issues connected directly or indirectly to the organisation. For example a pharmaceutical business that researches and develop drugs for cancer should be looking at 

This is a legitimate business practice but the “spirit” of CSR is approached from the angle of “what adverse impact is my organisation having on my staff, community and my environment and what can I do to begin to rectify them.
 

When a CSR initiative is well researched, planned and orchestrated, it often results in good public relations. CSR needs public relations for the company to enjoy the ultimate brand awareness, customers can see through projects that are primarily motivated by the need for publicity and brand development. A genuine CSR project will go a long way in creating awareness both internally and externally.

* Published in the http://csrnigeria.blogspot.com/ on 6th March 2010
*** Dr. Tunde Ewedemi is the Principal Consultant for Skyhigh ConsultingUK


The Changing Face of Africa


By Tony O. Elumelu


What a change a decade makes. Africa has come a long way since the Economist headline (now described as “regrettable”) of May 11, 2000 which referred to Africa as “The Hopeless Continent”.

We are seeing a noticeable shift in the way the continent is perceived from the outside. At the beginning of the year, the London Guardian published an editorial: “A fresh chapter is opening in Africa's history” and the Financial Times followed up with “Why Africa is leaving Europe behind”. The Economist, itself, in a dramatic reversal, titled its most recent issue “Africa Rising”.

These days, it is no longer unusual to come across reports by global financial institutions revealing impressive economic growth, or unprecedented economic opportunities in vmany parts of the continent.  But even more important than what outsiders think of the continent is what Africans themselves think. We are currently experiencing an exciting transformation in the way we perceive ourselves.

A revival of self-confidence is taking place all around us. We are witnessing a series of political re-awakenings that seek to enthrone democracy and the rule of law. Africans are getting more and more used to the idea of deciding, through the ballot-box, their political leadership. Africans who have achieved some measure of success abroad are returning home in increasing numbers, driven by the belief that there is no place like “home”, and armed with a determination to replicate their overseas successes in their own countries.

GDP growth rates have more than doubled in sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade, compared to the 1990s. During the same period, six of the top ten fastest growing economies in the world were sub-Saharan African countries: Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Mozambique, and Rwanda. That trend is certain to continue into the near future. This year, the World Bank upgraded Zambia and Ghana into the “middle-income” category. Consumer spending on the continent, currently approaching a trillion dollars per annum, is expected to double over the next decade as the middle-class begins to re-emerge and assert itself.

A decade ago, there were less than 100,000 mobile phone lines in Nigeria. Today, there are close to a hundred million. Recent estimates indicate that as many as 40 million Nigerians – a quarter of the population – regularly use the Internet.

New infrastructure (roads, railways, power stations, airports) and reform-oriented legislation is being created across the continent. There is a growing shift in emphasis from foreign aid to foreign direct investment – driven by African talent. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), an African Union development agency, estimates that in the last decade, FDI into Africa grew from $9 billion to $88 billion.

What is becoming clearer by the day is that the private sector, working intelligently and confidently, can fashion home-grown solutions to poverty and economic stagnation.

I am excited about this, especially because I do not think that there will be a future for the world without a confident, self-propelling Africa – an Africa which, armed with the realisation that poverty is not an inescapable curse, actually takes responsibility for its immense potential for economic growth and prosperity.

My belief is that through an energised private sector, Africa can take its place in the driver’s seat and transform itself economically through investments that generate not only economic prosperity but also social wealth. This, in a nutshell, is my philosophy of ‘Africapitalism’. Africapitalism is not capitalism with an African twist; it is a rallying cry for empowering the private sector to drive Africa’s economic and social growth.

This belief has led me to set up two institutions: Heirs Holdings, an African proprietary investment firm committed to the economic transformation of Africa by generating long-term investments through economic prosperity and social wealth; and The Tony Elumelu Foundation, a non-profit organisation that champions impact investing. Impact investing combines the profit motive of traditional investing with the social and developmental outcomes of philanthropy.

We look for a double-bottom line: like all investments, we are keen to generate financial return, which helps ensure sustainability, but are also focused on achieving social and communal good. It is a beneficial and value-adding middle-way between the profit obsession of traditional investing, and the often unsustainable ‘hand-out’ approach of traditional philanthropy.

* Published in the CSR-in-Action Blog on 19th January, 2012.
*** Tony O. Elumelu, MFR (Nigeria), Chairman of Heirs Holdings. He is also the Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africa-based, African-funded not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and celebration of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship across Africa.



Wednesday 25 January 2012

RECOMMENDED READINGS

--- This compilation includes 48 study/survey summaries. Register/login for the free download:
* Published in CSR International on Wednesday, January 25, 2012.
*** Published by Dr Wayne Visser, CEO, CSR International

---Nestlé is in court in Switzerland on 24th and 25th January 2012 for running spies in the Swiss campaign group, ATTAC.
* Published in Baby Milk Action on Wednesday, January 25, 2012.
*** Published by Mike Brady, Campaign and Networking Coordinator, Baby Milk Action

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Ini Onuk: CSR On Her Mind

Wake her at midnight and the Lead Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of ThistlesPraxis Consulting, Lagos, Mrs. Ini Onuk, will most likely preach the ideals of corporate social responsibility on the spot. She tells Chinyere Fred how it all began.

If it is about wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeves then Ini Onuk will gladly plead guilty. When the subject is corporate social responsibility, that is. But you don’t blame her for that passion.
She believes it is one area many Nigerians and corporate organisations do not seem to understand properly. What does she mean?

“Having worked for over 20 years within and outside Nigeria and having some insight into the corporate responsibility initiatives of organisations and businesses in Nigeria and around Africa, and adding my work with non-for profit organisations over the years, it became clear that our understanding of what CSR is and what it is not is befuddled. My focus is helping companies do CSR well and helping the community that needs it the most and becoming that important link between corporate and social responsibilities,” she explains.

CSR for her should be an integral part of any responsible corporate entity. It encompasses not only what companies do with their profits, but also how they make them, she says.
What is more? It also goes beyond philanthropy, compliance and addresses how companies manage their economic, social and environmental impacts.

But she is not done yet. This amiable mother of three also sees corporate social responsibility as a means of managing relationships within the business sphere: the workplace, the marketplace, the supply chain, the community, and the public policy realm.
“Arguing about the existence of CSR is like arguing if businesses exist in the first place because the social contract is the prerequisite for the very existence of businesses,” she quips.
That probably explains why she can’t stop talking about the forthcoming Africa CEO Roundtable on Corporate Social Responsibility, a flagship event, her consulting outfit, ThistlePraxis Consulting, has put together after months of painstaking research in the various sectors of the economy. 

With the theme, ‘The Business Case for CSR and its impact on African Economies’, the three-day event billed for June 15 in Lagos, will parade world and industry leaders, including the first female president of Ireland, Ms. Mary Robinson.

She enthuses, “Is planned as an industry flagship event attracting the crème of Africa’s leading figures and decision-makers to immediately spark off conversations and discussions about Corporate Social Responsibility in Africa. It will also bring counterparts from Europe, United Kingdom and the United States for peer reviews and best practices.” The CSR dream hasn’t come easy though. Daily, she is confronted with critics, who according to her, argue that the social contract is a “fiction”, an intangible notion.

“But I argue for the existence or existentiality of the social contract. The social contract exists and functions as a conceptual and analogical system,” she adds.
But don’t get her wrong. She is not advocating that the government abdicates its roles for the business community. She explains, “Rather, it augments the responsibilities borne by the government and civil society and goes beyond what is required by law. The potential that CSR (done properly) offers requires the combined efforts of society as a whole. Neither the government nor businesses nor civil society is able to master the enormous challenges of our times single-handedly.

“I strongly believe that for us to have a headway, we may need to put in place a national strategy to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) with the aim of making a contribution to meeting the core challenges facing us in the globalised world of the 21st century.”

Ini is also passionate about volunteering. According to her, the culture of people working on behalf of others or a particular cause without payment for their time and services, is fast disappearing and must be addressed quickly. She opines: “We need to go back to the basics. Our young people come out of school with too much entitlement mentality. They lack the requisite skills needed to gain employment and most of them are unemployable. Volunteering opens your mind and broadens your scope of understanding. It enables you to gain skills that place you in good stead for employment or business.”

For her, the link between volunteering and CSR cannot be over emphasised. “I am preaching as well that businesses/organisations should, through their employee volunteer programmes contribute to creating societies in which all sectors are complementary – working together to answer the needs arising from new social and economic conditions and cooperating for the benefit of society, building trust between the public and private sector.

Speaking further on the roundtable event, she calls it the most stressful she has ever organised. She should know about roundtables and conferences, having successfully organised many as the executive secretary of the elite all-women organisation; Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ).

What then could be the challenge here? According to her, there has not been any support from the expected quarters. “We began advertising and sending out letters inviting organisations to participate since December last year. To date, we do not have any sponsorship for a continent wide event of this magnitude from any Nigerian organisation.
One organisation said to me “they do not invest in untested waters”. Others say a small company like ThistlePraxis Consulting cannot be hosting an event of this magnitude.

Many say that our advert that Pres. Robinson is the keynote speaker is an advertisement gimmick. Unfortunately for them, Pres. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, will be landing this country soon for this event. The interest has rather been far more than our expectations from outside Nigeria. We have delegates coming in from South Africa, Angola, Brazil, London and some other African countries.

A 2008 Draper Hills Fellow on Democracy and Development at Stanford University California and an alumna of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Programme, Ini is one woman that can never take a ‘NO’ for an answer.
That is probably the reason she will continue to preach the gospel of corporate social responsibility, with or without any support. It makes no difference.
* Published in Leadership Newspaper on Wednesday, January 25, 2012.

Friday 20 January 2012

CSR NEW SUMMARY ISSUE 4

GROUP ENDS FREE MEDICARE IN PLATEAU COUNCILS

The one week – long free medical services organised by the Defence Headquarters, under the aegis of Alliance Professional Resources Services Limited (APRESEL) in the four councils of Plateau State worst hit by the crises at the weekend concluded the exercise with the cleaning up of the streets in Jos – North Local Council. The council were free treatment was carried out included Jos – North, Jos – South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom, Jos – East councils.

Incidentally, the four councils are the areas where a state-of-emergency was declared by President Goodluck Jonathan. The medical team were made up of retired military personnel with Muslims and Christians doctors and nurses.

UNICEM TO COMMISSION N5B ROAD

The United Nigeria Cement Company (UNICEM) has disclosed that the 20km evacuation road that they are constructing at a cost of N5 billion will be completed and commissioned by the end of 2012.. the road would serve trailers conveying cement from its Mfamosing factory in Akamkpa, Cross River State to the wider market.

Also, as part of the company’s social responsibility, it spent N180 million on road maintenance of three Federal Highways of Ikang, Oban and Odukpani – Calabar – Itu roads, provided health care services, constructed boreholes and roads as well as rendering assistance on education to its host communties.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEGINS AUDIT OF REVENUE COLLECTION AGENCIES

In furtherance of its drive aimed at boosting its incomes through plugging of avenues for leakages and sleaze in all revenue collection agencies, the Federal Government has commenced the audit of the affected agencies. In addition, a task force that will critically assess the 2012 budget and cost of governance generally has been inaugurated as part of the ongoing efforts targeted at improving fiscal discipline in public finance in the country.

Giving the hint on these initiatives of the Federal Government in Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, disclosed that auditing of the revenue agencies’ accounts and the launching of the task force by the ministry were crucial to the current moves by government to improve internally generated revenue and enhance the efficiency of budgets, particularly the recurrent component which has become the subject of public concern over the past few years.

CHEVRON SUSPENDS SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS FOR TWO MISSING CONTRACTORS

Chevron Corporation said that its subsidiary, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), has called off the search and rescue activities for two contractors who were missing after Monday’s fire aboard the K.S. Endeavor, a drilling rig offshore Nigeria operated by FODE Drilling Nigeria Limited.

“After three days of intensive search and rescue activities for our missing colleagues, I am saddened to report that our efforts have proven unsuccessful and, therefore, we have made the difficult decision to transition to a recovery operation. On behalf of Chevron, we extend our sincere condolences to the families of the missing individuals,” said Andrew Fawthrop, managing director, Chevron's Nigeria/Mid-Africa Strategic Business Unit.

FOUNDATION BRINGS SUCCOUR TO INDIGENT PERSONS IN BENUE

The Yuletide season may have come and gone but certain events leave behind memories that will linger for long. One of such was the act of love demonstrated by the Omirigbe Gladys Ojobo Foundation OGOF.
In the remote villages of Oju and Obi local government areas of Benue State, the Foundation brought succour to many indigent widows and other lessprivileged.

According to the chairman of the foundation, Mr Ojeka Ikpe, it spent N700,000 on hospital bills, while 48 bags of rice and 288 metres of wrappers clothing were procured for distribution to the women during the Yuletide even as several food condiments were also given out.

BONGA OIL SPILL CAUSES FISH SCARCITY

Fishermen operating in the coastal states along the Atlantic Shoreline have attributed the current fish scarcity to the recent oil spill from the Bonga Oil Fields operated by Shell.

The fishermen said they were instructed by the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to withdraw from fishing activities in the Atlantic Ocean due to oil pollution from the December 20, 2011 oil spill.

ECONOMIC GROUP SEEKS REDUCION IN JONATHAN’S CABINET

The Chairman of Ondo State Economic Summit Group (OSEG), Mr Banji Alabi has called for the scrapping of security votes for the president, governors and council chairmen, as part of efforts to ensure a judicious use of the increasingly scarce resources in the country.

Alabi, a lawyer also called for immediate deregulation of the National Assembly to make it part time. He equally called for drastic reduction in their salaries and allowances in line with the belt – tightening being sought by the presidency, which prompted its controversial removal of subsidy on petrol
Published in Guardian Newspaper, on Tuesday, 17th Jan. 2012

IMPROVING CHILD MATERNAL HEALTH IN KOGI

Stakeholders in Kogi State Health Sector have commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for their efforts in improving healthcare delivery in the state.

This was the consensus among majority of those that participated in the just concluded Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH) Week that took place throughout the 21 local government councils in the state
Published in Daily Independent Newspaper, on Thursday, 19th Jan. 2012

Tuesday 17 January 2012

CSR still practised as charity activity – Onuk

Contrary to general opinion and belief that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice is fast taking shape in Nigeria, one of the advocates and experts in the emerging industry, Mrs. Ini Onuk, Chief Executive Officer/Lead Consultant, ThistlePraxis Consulting however, said a lot did not happen in 2011 apart from increase in the apostles of the ‘CSR gospel’.
Assessing the CSR and sustainability industry in Nigeria in 2011, the sustainability expert said, “Generally, we didn’t see a lot that was different in 2011 aside an increase in the apostles of the ‘CSR Gospel’;  more organisations claiming to be socially responsible as well as many other professionals, consultants and advocates in an emerging industry. This, for me, showed that the concept is fast gaining grounds even though acceptance and compliance are still afar off,” adding that  “What I would record were highlights are a major attempt to elevate the discourse of CSR across the African continent through the AR-CSR™ (Africa CEO Roundtable & Conference on CSR), the launch of a journal on sustainability in Africa (CSR Files™) and a focus on CSR at the biggest Public-Private Platform in Nigeria – the NESG Summit 17 with the launch of a compendium on CSR activities.
She said, in addition, some regulars took place – the SERA Awards and pockets of trainings here and there including one that ThistlePraxis organised, the ECSRRMP towards the end of the year. The UN HDI Report didn’t favour Nigeria and many other Sub-Saharan countries, so I will say it was a good year but better still needs to be done about CSR and Sustainability.”
Speaking on the areas on organisations focused on in 2011 and why, Mrs. Onuk stated that education, economic empowerment/poverty alleviation got the better of organizations’ budget on CSR. “I would say education, economic empowerment/poverty alleviation stood out as focus areas. We also saw a number of community interventions focused on provision of water and other social amenities through corporate social investments in many parts of the country. However, she said “I cannot answer ‘why’, as I do not consult for these organisations, but I can attempt to espouse their intentions. These are gaping needs that needs to be met and since CSR is still mostly practised as an ad-hoc and charity activity, those initiatives featured a lot in the news.”
Onuk, who also tried to differentiate between CSR and corporate philanthropy, said “I will point out that sadly, CSR remains an ad-hoc and somewhat external activity to many organisations. This is why we are not developing the practice and implementing the tactics as we should in Nigeria and many other parts of Africa. For as long as the executives, relevant public officials and civil society groups do not understand or fail to embrace the many dimensions of CSR; core philanthropic/charity activities and projects will dominate. For CSR to make sense, it must be part of your business strategy that is how you do business. It must not be related to only when the business makes profit.”
On how the practice impact businesses, the apostle of the holistic CSR approach stated that Corporate Social Responsibility impacts businesses in a number of ways. Some of which are she said are increasing their bottom line, employee motivation and productivity, brand experience and direct reach to intended targets, sustainability inputs to ensure survival and longetivity of the business entity amongst many other benefits. “And these are not abstracts; they have been tested, trusted and proven over and over again. A well thought-out CSR initiative will help cut costs, make the program more effective and through positive feedback, will result in gains in all sectors. Acknowledging and addressing all the key impacts of your business will bring credibility and reduce “green washing”. This in turn increases brand value and economic gains, thus reinforcing the positive cycle.”
On regulating the CSR industry, Onuk told Daily Independent that whilst she is an advocate for regulation, she does not think a law is what the industry needs. “Whilst I am an advocate for regulation, I do not think a law is what we need. I believe a National Agenda that seeks to regulate the CSR activities and claims of organizations would best suit the Nigerian environment because there’s a lack of trust between the government and the people. Therefore, if an agenda is put in place, it should serve as a guide for Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and existing corporations in Nigeria to ensure that certain standards are adhered to and nothing below a particular, stipulated quality would be acceptable in Nigeria. Organisations who do not comply will not be permitted to operate.”
On a particular percentage regulation should allocate to the implementation of the industry, she said it is not about the amount and will never be about the amount so as much as the policy that guides the amount invested. A company can allocate a sizeable amount of her profits ‘to CSR’ but not achieve any impact or even practice CSR as should be done. We always concentrate on the amount doled out and forget the process, the strategy and the expected impact that drives the intention. Before an organization goes out to the media to recant their investments in billions of naira, I would want to ask what policy drives this investment in the first place and also, what differentiates their investment from corporate philanthropy.
Again, I will caution the use of the word ‘execution’ and this is because, execution is the third part of the process. There is the drafting, integrating into business models and operations before execution surfaces. Government as always provides the enabling environment through sustainable policies and focus as a regulatory arm of the chain. I believe the NGOs are the implementing partners for philanthropy and social investment collaborations. As for the corporate entities, I would advise they should be responsible for driving the economic agenda by becoming a pressure group for change – and holding the government accountable to policy thrust in the face of her abandoned responsibilities.
Differentiating CSR and Public Relations, ThistlePraxis Consulting boss added, companies, who do not understand that CSR is about business sustainability and integrity as much as it is about social programs, often make the mistake of making CSR a marketing or PR program/problem. By doing so, they essentially “green-wash” their company. In my opinion, PR should lightly handle CSR initiatives until the CSR program has momentum and there is something to actually celebrate and brag about. Celebrating decency and expected behaviour is not good PR on CSR. It is artificial and could cause more harm than good. PR should let the public know that there is a CSR program, that there will be a report, and what some of the programs are under development, or highlight ongoing/historical CSR efforts.
However, she said “CSR is about smart business practices. It is about constant improvement and integrity. PR is about reporting on the events as they occur or showcasing a history of events and trending. The danger is when the showcasing precedes the actual work.”
Onuk however put the industry estimate at N50billion. She said the industry is pretty large in monetary investments/expenditure – but from our last estimation and research, should be close to about N50 Billion in direct investment on CSR. Some sources say it is about twice that amount. However, the ROI on these investments are almost non-existent in real terms of business and social impacts if we are to develop indicators to measure them. The industry may not be termed an industry as the parameters that define a profession and industry are yet to be established or put in place in Nigeria.
*** Published in Daily Independent  Newspaper on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012.