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Tag: CSR

  • CSR: Fidelity Bank boosts education with classrooms

    Fidelity Bank Plc has inuagurated a new block of classrooms at the Police Children School, Obalende, Lagos as part of its commitment to support communities where it does business.

    The project was done under the aegis of the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), one of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, where staff of the bank identifies a project, raise funds for it with the bank supporting them, and the school project was identified by the bank’s security men across the country, who raised funds for it amongst themselves.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the inauguration was very special to the bank as the renovation was in fulfillment of the objectives of the Fidelity CSR practice, which rests on a tripod: The environment, education and health/social welfare.

    Okonkwo said the bank strives to reinforce robust, healthy community relations by identifying with host communities in activities that are most relevant to them, which was why their  security staff remembered the Police Children School and contributed N500 each to renovate it.

    He said: “We play a leading role by identifying and seeking viable solutions to the problems of the society like youth empowerment, especially those in our immediate operational environment and have as a result, extended similar projects and initiatives to other states of the federation.”

    Okonkwo also promised to further assist the school by renovating other blocks not in the original plan and provide a generating set to the school’s Information Technology Laboratory. ”It is a fact that the world is now growing in technology, with e-learning the way forward, hence we will provide more computer systems and a generating set to power it for the children,” he said.

    Lagos State Police Commissioner, represented by the Bar Beach Divisional Police Officer  (DPO),  Olusegun Ajamolaya said the bank’s initiative is good as educating the young ones will go a long way in reducing illiteracy as training a child is synonymous to training a generation.

  • ‘LCCI 2016 awards celebration of best practices, CSR’

    ‘LCCI 2016 awards celebration of best practices, CSR’

    The 2016 Commerce & Industry Awards organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) was a celebration of  companies that have grown over time through innovations and business sustainability. It was also for rewarding companies that made positive impact on the people,  integrity, transparency and social responsibility, the LCCI President, Chief Mrs. Nike Akande, has said.

    The ceremony, which held in Lagos, during the week, celebrated private and public institutions operating in Nigeria for their best business practices and growth through innovations.

    Speaking at the event, Mrs Akande said: “We are celebrating enterprises that have excelled in the economy amidst multitude of challenges in the investment environment. We are excited that many of them are also indigenous enterprises.”

    Some of the companies that came tops are Nestle Nigeria Plc and Unilever for High Standards in Food manufacturing, Olam for most impactful investment in agriculture, May & Baker for high quality & safety in pharmaceutical manufacturing and Alpha Morgan Capital Managers Limited for emerging investment banking firm.

    Others are NEXIM Bank for Trade Finance Bank of the year, Techno Oil for the most impactful company in clean cooking, Coleman Technical Industries Limited for impactful investment in wire and cables, Sujimoto Construction Limited for most innovative luxury real estate firm, Skool Media for innovation & creativity in education among others.

    Mrs Akande said the LCCI awards would, amongst other things, continue to promote healthy competition among corporate organisations as well as public sector institutions. She said the Chamber believes that there is tremendous value in competition.

    She commended the Federal Government on the ongoing efforts at fixing some critical sectors of the economy such as power, security, forex issues, infrastructure, institutional bottlenecks and corruption.

    Responding, the awardees commended the Chamber for recognising their impact in the growth of the economy and encouraged the government to put in place robust measures to encourage businesses in the nation. They canvassed the withdrawal of hurtful policies that discourage investment and encourage capital flight.

    In his closing remarks, LCCI Deputy President, Mr. Babtunde Ruwase, thanked  the firms that participated for their contribution to the development of the economy and promised that LCCI as a critical partner in the economy would continue to contribute its quota to the growth of the economy.

  • CSR: Union Bank adopts school in Kano

    CSR: Union Bank adopts school in Kano

    Union Bank of Nigeria has adopted Maryam Alooma Muhktar Girls Secondary School, Kano, as part of the activities marking this year’s Global Money Week.

    Global Money Week is a money awareness celebration from Monday, March 14, to Sunday, March 20, 2016. The globally recognised initiative is aimed at engaging children on aspects of financial education, including saving, creating livelihoods, gaining employment and entrepreneurship.

    The Bankers’ Committee of Nigeria designated Thursday, March 17, 2016 as Financial Literacy Day. The day has been marked to positively impact youths in primary and secondary schools by educating them on the basics of financial literacy and planning skills.

    “At Union Bank, we recognise the significance of promoting Financial Inclusion in Nigeria. We have developed a range of banking solutions tailored to service the under-banked businesses, communities and individuals across Nigeria.

    ‘’With our extensive network of over 300 banking centres, we have demonstrated our continued commitment to serve the public,”said the Group Managing Director, Union Bank and Chair of the Financial Literacy and Public Enlightenment Sub-committee of the Bankers’ Committee, Emeka Emuwa.

    They added: “Beyond this, we recognise that Financial Literacy is a key enabler in our quest for Financial Inclusion and that we must begin by ensuring that our children are properly empowered with a sound financial education.”

    Union Bank’s executives and a team of staff volunteers have visited the school.

    Its Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Mr Kunle Sonola taught the pupils Financial Literacy from a curriculum developed by Junior Achievement–Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, focused on educating children on economic matters.

    The bank’s Executive Director, Public Sector, Ibrahim Kwargana said there was need to equip youths on how to handle and manage their finances.

    Meanwhile, the state Deputy Governor, Prof Hafiz Abubakar, represented by the Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Danlami Garba, described the programme as a wonderful initiative which the youth can gain from.

  • FirstBank reviews impact of CSR efforts

    FirstBank reviews impact of CSR efforts

    To reposition for 2016, FirstBank of Nigeria has reviewed some of its corporate social investments in the past few years in critical sectors to fulfill its brand promise, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    In recent years, corporate organisations have shown growing interest in corporate social responsibility(CSR). Unlike in recent time when their  goals were to make sales, maximise profit, now they are concern about making impact on the enviroment through various interventions.

    As a result, some companies have made CSR an important part of their brand promise and contribute to national growth in the areas of education, health, agriculture, among others.

    In the light of this, several companies from telecommunications, fast moving consumer goods industry, set aside some budgets called ‘corporate social investment’ to support societial needs.

    One of Nigeria’s oldest brands, FirstBank of Nigeria recently reveals how much it has supported research in nine higher higher institutions. While reviewing its CSR efforts, the bank stated that with its mission to set the ‘gold standard’ of customer experience, excellence in financial solutions across sub-saharan Africa with vision to be a partner of first choice in building future for people and communities where it operates, it has been promoting educational development in Nigeria, driving and sustaining the economy through academic research.

    The bank said it has expressed these brand promises encoded in its mission and vision through the take-off of the Uyo Endowment Fund in Petroleum Engineering, the FUTA Endowment in Computer Science with focus on some of the research done by the Professorial Chair, Dr. B.K. Alese. The latest in social investment is Samuel Asabia Endowment in Business Ethics in the University of Lagos, which is about to take off

    The Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, said: “We will always deliver the ultimate ‘gold standard’ of value and excellence. Our financial services knowledge and practices lead the market in ensuring that we understand our customers and surpass expectations to strive for a better way of delivering first-class service and experience.

    “FirstBank of Nigeria Limited established its endowment structure to complement the Federal Government’s efforts in the development and advancement of tertiary education in Nigeria. The Endowment Structure necessitates the funding of research projects in federal universities, selected around the six geographical regions of the country. The funds were set up in various departments as approved by the Bank’s Management to facilitate research work in the endowed universities.”

    She said FirstBank Endowment Programme was initiated in 1994  has professorial endowments in nine federal universities each located in the different geopolitical zones of the country.  Currently, the bank’s total endowment portfolio is N450 million.

    According to Ani-Mumuney, the bank engaged its sister company FBN Capital to manage the investment portfolio of the various endowments to ensure maximum yield for each endowment investment in order to promote research and learning in the universities.

    “Each Professorial Endowment usually has a professorial chair occupant selected through a rigorous but transparent process to ensure qualified candidates are engaged for the research. Candidates for the Chair are sourced from within the affected Department of the University. He/she may not necessarily be a substantive Professor but not less than a senior lecturer. The University’s representative on the Board of Trustees for the Endowment Fund is empowered to advertise, select and interview candidates and thereafter appoint an occupant for the professorial chair,” she said.

    She said some of these CSR projects have impacted on the selected schools for global competitiveness. “Since the launch of the FBN FUTA Endowment Fund, it has witnessed a series of research projects that have resulted in knowledge creation and dissemination carefully articulated in organised public lectures and integrated into policies that have served as solutions to existing peculiar concerns in the country. One of the public lectures was delivered on April, 2014 and themed Security Issues in Nigeria: Getting Ready for The Digital Challenge.

    “The bank’s unflagging commitment to promoting educational development through the FBNFUTA Endowment Fund has positioned FUTA as a citadel of excellence in the global competitive stage. This was evidenced in the feat achieved by the FBN FUTA Professorial Chair Occupant and his associates in the Computer Science Department at the Eighth International Conference for Internet Technology and Secured Transactions (ICITST-2013) in London, United Kingdom in December 2013,” she noted.

  • Lagos, Access Bank, partner on CSR

    The Lagos State Government has partnered with Access Bank’ Corporate Operations Division to carry out Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) works. Both institutions have rebuilt Keke Nursery and Primary School Agege, Lagos state.

    The exquisitely built school was handed over to the Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Dr. Ganiu Oluremi Shopeyin, who was represented by Mrs. Adaramosu H.I.

    Access Bank’s Executive Director Operations and I, Ojini Olaghere, who was  as represented by the Head Corporate Operations Division, Banjo Adegbohungbe praised the Lagos State Government for giving the bank the opportunity to share in the welfare of Nigerian pupils.

    “Access Bank is very concerned about the welfare of students in Nigeria, we believe that creating a great environment for learning will greatly improve the standard of education in Nigeria. We decided to rebuild Keke Nursery and Primary School because we understand that the future of our country is hinged on our children and educating them is the responsibility of all. Access Bank takes CSR seriously and we at the Corporate Operations arm are at the fore front of the Bank’s drive,” he said.

  • Embracing CSR, the RCCG example

    Embracing CSR, the RCCG example

    Discussions on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) permeate all aspects of human life but the religious domain is often ignored. With the creation of Church/Christian Social Responsibility, a CSR unit of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), religious organisations appear to recognise their roles in human and environmental development of the areas where they operate, write ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI and DAVID ADEJO. 

    Globalisation has influenced churches to be more committed to the social, economic, health and environmental concerns of their members. The government has failed to address some social needs, which dampened social values of citizens. So, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is crossing the border of corporate organisations,  perching on the altar of religious institutions.

    By implication, churches have found it worthwhile as a strategy to impact on the society without losing their primary objective-preaching salvation and making heaven. With armies of unemployed graduates, employed, poor populace, among other issues, who seek solutions from divinity, churches are beginning to explore CSR engagement tool as buffer for their congregations.

    To enhance better coordination of what some religious scholars also termed, Christian Coporate Social Responsibility (CCSR), some churches, especially those with highest congregation, now set up CSR/Sustainability departments to bind both faith in God and work for the betterment of the society beyond just feeding them with words of God.

    During a recent programme, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Province 58, Ikorodu, Lagos organised an empowerment programme for its church members in  demonstration of care for the people who are swamped by social-economic challenges to deal with.

    After assessing their needs, the church paraded high profile human capacity development and empowerment professionals from the Bank of Industry (BoI), Fidelity Bank, Capacity Development and Skills Enhancement agencies to empower the church members in other to be job creators.

    The Chief Consultant, Capacity Development and Skills Enhancement, an NGO, Odewunmi Olatunji, said the CSR programme of the church had over 700 people who are learning various skills. He said some of them have learnt the business and art of bag making, shoe making, hair making, cinematography, make-ups, gele tying, manicure and pedicure, events management and decoration, catering, among others.

    He said the church has trained over 20,000 people since 2011 when the programme was introduced, adding that records have shown that most of them are doing well in their businesses.

    Explaining the rationale behind the empowerment programme, the Pastor-in-Charge of the province, Pastor Godwin Obadun, said the buy-in into CSR was occasioned by the state of the economy as a measure to reduce poverty in the country. “We have looked at the situation around us, the only thing we feel we can do to stop poverty is to enhance them with skills that will make them producers and service providers. This is why we have put together this two-week tuition free programme. The General Overseer, Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye, is the owner of this vision. He said: ‘Go out, don’t only preach the gospel, put something in their hands, let them have a job’ and this is what we are trying to do,” he said.

    He said further that the church also partnered with BoI to provide access to loans for startups after the training. “We have invited them because in some other programmes we have gone to, after training, the participants don’t have money or the capacity, or tools. We have, however, gone a step further by bringing in the BoI. We have given them tools. There is no way they can liaise with BoI without having an account with a commercial bank, and Fidelity Bank, as we all know, is a leading SME bank in Nigeria. So, we also brought them in to support. The people will not just learn the skills, but also have access to funds so they can start something. We are grateful to BoI and Fidelity Bank for coming. They have also promised to assist everyone,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Regional Head of BoI, Mr. Ubaro Marvel Usah,who was at the event,  said the bank is ready to support anyone after the training in other to grow the economy and reduce poverty.

    ”We are here on the invitation of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). They are having an empowerment programme to educate their members. They want to educate their members on the available products that BoI has which can be used to support their members in terms of empowerment and how we can provide financial support for their teeming members. So, essentially, we are here to tell them the products that are available for SME within BoI, then the requirements of Bank Support Scheme under each of the schemes that we have, and then what we can do to work with them to go and develop business so that we can develop our economy jointly and collectively,” he said.

    Besides BoI, the church also brought Fidelity Bank to ease access to loans for the trainees. One of the managers of SMEs for Fidelity Bank, Banksharon Nwaneri, assured the bank also intends to support the church’s CSR drive by getting the understanding that they can receive support to start up.

    “There is what we call commercial support overdraft. It provides short-term loans which last for about 30 days and a very market- friendly interest rate that we can make available. We also have the commercial support loan which lasts for 90 days. Then, we have our commercial credit facility that can run for about one year to expand their businesses.

    Then they can also access our CBN intervention funds which we work massively in,” she explained.

    One of the beneficiaries of the training, who preferred to be called by her first name, Kafayat, said though she doesn’t attend the church, she found the programme impactful.

    She said with the training, she can now be her own boss. “I heard about this programme from a friend. I am not a Christian or a member of this church. I came for the registration on Monday (this week), we started the training and now I can do some beads to sell. I also like it because we have the opportunity to borrow from the bank, soft loans with no collateral and little interest to pay,” she said.

    In the light of this, a Journal of Business Management and Economics stated the contribution from religious angle is few and peripheral. “Discussions on CSR permeate all aspect of human life –social, economic and environmental domains, but the religious domain is often ignored, perhaps based on the belief that social domain covers religion. The diverse and overlapping debate on CSR is so intense that it elicited criticism that ‘the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a religion filled with priests,” the journal stated.

    However, scholars said exploring CSR from religious lenses is justified because religion is now becoming a tool by governments across the world to elicit support for policies and for shaping people’s worldviews.

  • Changing CSR story line

    Changing CSR story line

    The practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is fast changing. With CSR attracting various nomenclatures, such as corporate social investment, corporate sustainability and others, experts say the story line of CSR must continue to change, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    Where does Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) budget really go? In whose interest, the society, organisation or the CEO? Are CSR programmes designed to create value for the society or to earn a bragging right for the company? These were some of the questions that begged for answers at the just-concluded forum organised by Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN).

    With global attention fast shifting from CSR to sustainability, experts are of the opinion that many corporate organisations do not adhere to standard practice, hence, they fall below best global CSR reporting guidelines.

    With the theme: “Challenges of Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria- Roles of Organisations, Government and the Media”, the forum held at Grand Seren Hotel, Iyaganku, GRA, Ibadan, Oyo State, last Friday.

    The Group Managing Director,  SO&U Limited and chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Mr. Ufot Udeme, in his presentation entitled: “Pushing the moral boundaries between CSR spend and CSR marketing budget”, queried the intention of corporate organisations on CSR efforts.

    “Is there really a need to leverage an organisation’s CSR initiatives? It is argued that some of the highest givers around the world give quietly, sometimes even anonymously; they sincerely want to meet a need without attracting unnecessary attention to themselves. Why don’t organisations do the same?”

    Ufot noted that CSR is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as the local community and the society at large.

    To him, CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision making, and the honouring of a triple bottom line: People, Planet, and Profit. “It is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society – to “make the world a better place,” he said.

    The Managing Director, TruContact, Mr. Ken Egbas, is worried that many companies fall below standard practice of CSR if benchmarked against global reporting guidelines.

    “They call people together and give them gifts, or give exercise books to school children or renovate a school classroom, grade a small stretch of  road, then, they call the journalist and splash the photos on the pages of their paper and they call that CSR,” he noted.

    He blamed the media for supporting the ignorance of corporate organisations about CSR, saying: “journalists contribute in lowering the standard.”

    “Where that leaves you is that it drops the standard so low because the journalists, who are supposed to demand for standard do not even know the standard for CSR and sustainability reporting, which is very sad,” Egbas observed.

    He stressed further that until the media pay attention to standard, it would be difficult to hold organisations accountable.

  • Airtel voted best company in CSR Health Intervention at SERAs 2015

    Airtel voted best company in CSR Health Intervention at SERAs 2015

    Leading telecoms operator, Airtel Nigeria, has emerged the ‘Best Company in CSR Health Intervention’ at the 2015 Nigeria CSR Award, otherwise known as the Social Enterprise Report Awards (SERAs).

    Themed: “Building Partnership for a Sustainable Future”, the 2015 SERAs Awards, which is the 9th edition, held at the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos, with notable personalities in attendance.

    Airtel, at the event, bagged the award category, which had Shell, Exxon Mobil, Sahara Oil and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as key contenders. The telco was also nominated in other categories including the ‘Best Companies in Partnership for Development,’ ‘Best Company in Promotion of Gender Equality,’ and Best Company in Sustainability Reporting.’

    According to the organisers, Airtel Nigeria won the Best Company in CSR Health Intervention’ owing to its outstanding impact through its health intervention programmes in Millennium Village Projects (MVP) in Pampaida, Kaduna that has improved healthcare system and saved many lives.

    The Chief Sales Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Godfrey Efeurhobo, received the award on behalf of the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Segun Ogunsanya.

    Commenting on the award, Mr. Ogunsanya said the award is a much appreciated testimony of Airtel’s efforts at positively impacting society and creating credible platforms to uplift the underprivileged.

    He also noted that Airtel is committed to connecting more Nigerians to their dreams, empowering more telecoms consumers and creating more opportunities for underprivileged persons.

    MD, Total Nigeria Plc., Alexis Vovk; MD, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Mr. Bayo Ojulari were at the event.

    Other members of the Airtel team in attendance were, Head of PR, Adefemi Adeniran; Head, High Value Customer Experience, Sarwiyat Rahaman; Digital and PR Manager, Erhumu Bayagbon and Assistant CSR Manager, Chioma Okolie.

    As part of Airtel’s technological support to the Millennium Villages Projects in Nigeria, the telco provided base stations and complimentary data to enhance exchange of information between the central server and the community health workers, while also boosting communication between the health workers and villagers. This in effect has drastically reduced infant and maternal mortality in the region.

    Airtel’s innovative services such as Dial-a-Doctor and Mobile Midwife have also contributed to quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

  • Fashola, Dozie, others suggest framework for effective CSR

    Fashola, Dozie, others suggest framework for effective CSR

    Concerted efforts are required on the part of all stakeholders to make corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives more relevant, effective as well as efficient.

    These were the conclusion reached by a cross-section of experts at a public forum in Lagos with the theme: ‘The Role of CSR in Nigeria’s Sustainable Development.’

    The event was part of activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the MTN Foundation (MTNF).

    MTN Foundation is the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) arm of MTN Nigeria a company established in 2001.

    Former governor of Lagos state, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who delivered the keynote address, observed that while the ideal and idea of CSR has gained acceptance globally, there is still a lot of misconception about what CSR really is.

    While commending the MTN Foundation on its commitment to impacting the lives of Nigerians some of whom hitherto were living without hope, Fashola called on other multinationals to intensify their CSR programmes in Nigeria.

    “While in office as the Governor of Lagos, I witnessed MTNF’s special interest and active involvement in tackling issues around health, education, security and economic empowerment. The Foundation equipped laboratories for vocational and technical training; it intervened in collaborating with the state to provide Haemodialysis machines in our general hospital in Igando, Alimosho. Our general hospital in Gbagada now has 24 dialysis machines. In the area of security, the Foundation has been very supportive,” Fashola said.

    Former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communication Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, in his remarks, said that the MTN’s decision to separate its CSI in MTNF is an affirmation of its genuine desire to touch the lives of Nigerians. MTN since 2005 has dedicated 1% of its profit after tax to the MTN Foundation’s activities.

    “Creating a separate entity like MTN Foundation to simply cater for CSI is unique. Engaging a Private-Public-Partnership model simply shows the interest of the Foundation in adding value to the society and such genuine considerations must be commended. While some corporate organisations are yet to understand the core of CSI, it is interesting to note that the MTN Foundation has been consistent in strategically implementing credible projects that are sustainable,” Ndukwe said.

    In setting up the MTN Foundation, Dr. Pascal Dozie, a Director with Foundation said “we agreed that we will engage people who had a molecule of virtues, who understood the principles of good governance and what it takes to be responsible.”

    In the past ten years, MTNF has spent over N13 billion on 344 projects across the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

  • FCMB deepens CSR initiatives

    FCMB deepens CSR initiatives

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has continued to demonstrate its passion and commitment to the welfare of the physically challenged in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability initiatives.

    The lender has sponsored Mr. Folawiyo Adisa, a para-badminton player, to participate at the first International Para-Badminton Championship organised by Houston Badminton Centre, USA last month.

    This marked the eight consecutive year the bank has been supporting the multiple Africa and world gold medalist in the sport.

    According to FCMB’s Group Head, Corporate Communications & CSR, Mrs. Uchenna Mojekwu, the bank’s support to Mr. Adisa stems from its belief that in every disability, there is ability.

    ‘’We acknowledge his exploits in the game of para-badminton over the years. As a bank driven by the culture of excellence, we will continue to encourage him and other physically challenged individuals to realise their dreams and bring more laurels to the country’’.

    ‘’FCMB has been a great pillar of support and motivation. The Bank’s support to me since 2008 has encouraged other physically challenged people to believe in themselves through the platform that badminton and other sports provide’’, Adisa said.