Nigerian firms and other corporate organisations have been advised to review and refocus their corporate social responsibility (CSR)/Sustainability resources as they conclude plans for their 2022 operations.

A Business Development & Sustainability Expert, Nelson Obine, gave the advice while speaking at the maiden Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Retreat (CSR-S 2021) in Nigeria, held recently in Lagos.

The advice arose from the outcome of Obine’s research carried out on CSR/Sustainability engagement and reports for the past three years (2018 – 2020) which he presented at the Retreat.

“The research found that companies in Nigeria focused more resources on the philanthropic sustainability followed by ethical sustainability,” Obine, the Chief Sustainability Advocate of People Planet and Profit Media, said. “The financial industry took the lead, followed by the Manufacturing Sector, oil and gas; and Telecoms industry. This among others implies that the most acceptable sustainability practices in Nigeria have been philanthropic responsibility,” he added.

Mr. Obine emphasised the need for Nigerian companies “and other corporate organizations to review and refocus their CSR/Sustainability resources on other aspects as they plan for their 2022 strategies.” This, according to him, is “to ensure a balance in the realisation of sustainable aspirations across sectors and industries.”

The Retreat, held virtually on Thursday, November 25, 2021, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, had a three-pronged agenda, namely; Review Refocus and Refire.

Organised by News Express in partnership with P3 Media, the event had First Bank Nigeria Plc and Guinness Nigeria Plc as sponsors.

Other facilitators included News Express Publisher Isaac Umunna; Mrs. Susie Onwuka, Head, Lagos Office, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Nigeria; and Mr. Adewole Lawal, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Manager, Anheuser-Busch InBev Africa.

Update news