Business
Let your CSR projects be people oriented, Ogun Deputy Gove tells firms
The Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele has advised corporate organisations, that are in the habit of giving back to the society, through different Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) projects, to ensure that such align with the people’s needs and government policies, for such to have meaningful impact on the beneficiaries.
Salako-Oyedele, made the appeal at the 1st Ogun State PR Forum/CSR Exhibition and Awards, put together by AS+A Communications Ltd, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
The deputy governor who was represented by the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Investment, Ms. Sola Arobieke, noted that the theme for the programme, “CSR: The Nexus Between Public, Private Partnership and the Diplomatic Corps for Sustainable Social Investment,” was relevant in tackling and navigating the challenges of social development in Nigeria.
She explained, “CSR is about businesses recognising their roles in the society beyond profit making. It is about investing in community, protecting the environment, empowering the underprivileged and ensuring that businesses contribute positively to the society that they operate.
“When CSR is strategically aligned with government policies and development goals, we create a powerful synergy that accelerate progress in education, healthcare, gender equality and infrastructural development”.
“As a government, we recognise the transformative power of CSR, and have consistently encouraged strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors”.
“Corporate organizations must therefore continue to engage with stakeholders transparently and ensure that their CSR aligned with the real needs of the people”.she added.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku represented by Prof Emmanuel Dandaura emphasised the need for a stronger collaboration between private and public sector to advance the country’s sustainable development in all sectors.
Dr Neliaku added that there is need to interrogate old ways of doing things, set a new template with a new resolve for public and private partnership that impact the people for the better.
He stated further, “Let me challenge everyone of us that we interrogate old paradigm. We need to set new template. We need to look at what is not working and look at what has worked and see that we leave this place with renewed resolve to ensure that we impact society. This is what communication is about, this is what public relations is about and as an institute, we are fully in support of this event and cannot wait to see us move from 25 years to 35 years”.
“For those who had been recognised, this is a challenge that people are happy with so much that they are doing and that people expect you to do more and you have now become a model”.
He commended Mrs. Shobajo for watching out and honouring corporate organisations that are using their resources to make life better for the citizens, urging the awardees to remain committed to initiatives that are geared towards uplifting the country and putting smiles on the faces of the people.
In her contribution, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AS+A Communications Ltd, Mrs Shobajo said the forum was established 25 years ago to honour individuals, corporate organisations and government functionaries that have been using the platform of CSR to lift the nation’s development.
Shobajo explained that there are lot of influential and well placed Nigerians who bother less about the plight of the less privileged and that forum like this is a strong platform to encourage such people and organizations to come out and lend a helping hand to make the world a better place
Some of the awardees at the event included a subsidiary of Sterling Bank, Sterling Foundation, the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Ajino Moto, the NIPR, the Nigeria Conservative Foundation (NCF).
