Nigeria LNG Limited has disclosed that integrity, partnership and ownership of projects by communities as the key ingredients to a successful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme in Nigeria.

On the invitation of International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Nigeria, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations, recently gave a presentation in Lagos at the association’s 7th Business Leaders Forum on the “12 Nuggets Wisdom” on Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the country, revealing strategies and key CSR success factors of the company.

IABC is a global network of 15,000 business communication professionals in over 80 countries, helping communicators to identify, share and apply the world’s best communication practices through leadership, publications, networking etc.

Speaking at the presentation, Dr. Eresia-Eke said CSR practice required a mindset of integrity, belongingness, long-term vision, sustainability, fairness and trust to achieve set goals of bring value to host communities and the companies.

He said the secret to NLNG’s CSR success is its commitment to being a trusted partner with all its stakeholders for the sustainable development of Nigeria and its host communities.

Dr. Eresia-Eke said: “NLNG is ranked as number one indigenous company and has won accolades across the country, the most recent being the award as the Gas Company of the Year by a foremost Nigerian business newspaper. This is not by happenstance. We look out for the good of all, treating our various stakeholders with respect and giving them a sense of ownership and ensuring sustainability in all the projects. That is our new direction in realising our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria.”

Dr Eresia-Eke, who spoke alongside IABC Executive Board member and Africa Regional Director Mr. Daniel Munslow from South Africa, added that other key success factors include understanding the environment, being realistic in executing projects, understanding local structures, supporting the locals and maximising values, among others.

Dr. Eresia-Eke cited some of the company’s programs/projects including the new Memorandum of Understanding, worth N3 billion, with Grand Bonny Kingdom which hands over ownership of development projects to the Bonny people; numerous infrastructure projects across 110 host communities, sponsorship of the most prestigious literary and science prizes in Africa, The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literature which come with cash prize of $100,000 each, to mention a few.

The President of IABC Nigeria, Chido Nwakanma, said “the quality of presentations and interaction at the 6th Business Leaders Forum has consolidated the standing of Business Leadership Forum as the foremost thought leadership platform in communication in Nigeria. Dr Eresia-Eke shared insights, perspectives and experience in CSR.”

According to the association, “the forum represents an opportunity to share the Nigerian LNG experience with an active audience of thought leaders and influencers across many platforms. Furthermore, Nigeria LNG is a lodestar in IABC Nigeria as the first Nigerian winner of the internationally acclaimed IABC Gold Quill Award.”

NLNG is owned by four shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC (49%), Shell Gas BV, SGBV, (25.6%), Total LNG Nigeria Limited (15%), and Eni International (N.A,) N. V. S. a. r. l (10.4%).

•Photo shows NLNG GM, External Relations, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke.

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