Stakeholders advocate CSR adoption to reduce poverty

Stakeholders have advocated the adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by organisations and individuals to impact lives, environment and reduce poverty level.
They spoke in Lagos, at the AS+A Communications 2023 CSR Forum/Exhibition and Awards with the theme: “CSR: Boosting Sustainability, Societal Impact and Return on Investment”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the corporate awardees at the event include Sterling Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Toyota Nigeria Ltd., the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), among others.
Individual awardees include Dr. Mike Akinyoade, Dr Olusola Obada, Sen. Dino Melaye, Dr Michael Olawale Cole, Dr Biodun Shobanjo and Yeye Aderonke Elegushi amongst others.
The Managing Director, AS+A Communications, Mrs. Adenike Shobajo, said the awardees had improved the living conditions of the stakeholders around their places of operations.
Shobajo said high net-worth interventions should focus on identifying ways to further cement bilateral relationships between Nigeria and other countries to foster better understanding of CSR relations.
This, she said, would enable bilateral business relationships to become more profitable while remaining socially and ethically accountable on the other hand.
“As part of the positive CSR impact, it is pertinent for us to be wary of the inhabitants of our environment and pay particular attention to their habitat.
“For some years running, we have collaborated with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and we received insight into nature and the inhabitants that share the environment with us.
“We intend to continue our engagement with various physically challenged members of society such as the Society for the Blind, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Borno, children living with autism and also people with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
“We would continue to carry out various CSR activities across all sectors of the economy to impact lives and raise the living conditions of Nigerians and urge everyone to join us,” she said.
Also speaking, former Minister of Defence, Dr. Olusola Obada, said the intersection of sustainability, social impact and return investments showed the need to rise above business as usual to create a brighter and more sustainable future for all.
Obada said Nigeria, a nation rich in cultural diversity and natural resources with immense potential for growth and prosperity, faced significant challenges in achieving sustainable development and creating a positive societal impact.
She, however, noted that over the years, Nigeria had made some progress in adopting policies that promote environmental protection and resource management.
She said in more recent times, emphasis had been placed on renewable energy initiatives, such as solar and wind power, to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.
“Additionally, there have been notable efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices and preserve natural habitats.
“Nigeria’s dynamic and growing population presents both opportunities and challenges in terms of societal impact.
“Social investments, driven by public and private initiatives, play vital roles in addressing the needs of the population, particularly in the areas of healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social welfare.
“As we gather here to explore ways to boost sustainability, societal impact, and return on investment, it is essential to draw upon the experiences and lessons learned from Nigeria’s political landscape and social investments,” she said.
Similarly, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, said companies must embrace CSR to support the government to get the necessary interventions to the grassroots.
Olawale-Cole said companies must give back to the society from their profits to minimise poverty and engender societal peace.
He also appealed to African leaders to provide good governance to avoid military coups and people being disgruntled about the government being for just a few people.
“A continent as rich as Africa has not yet been exploited; Nigeria is a great country and we all must be proud of it.
“Private sector and those in governance must do their best to meet the needs of the people to ensure peace in Africa,” he said. (NAN)