Ini's MUSE

By popular demand, ThistlePraxis Consulting announces the commencement of a weekly page on CSR, CSR Files™ Weekly. In association with The Guardian Newspapers; the assessments and strategy firm will publish news, activities and other relevant content to enhance the practice of professionals on Sustainability and Social Responsibility issues in Nigeria and beyond. In a statement by the Lead Consultant/CEO, Ini Onuk, ‘The launch of a weekly page brings to three – the variants of our contribution to the development of the industry through Research and Information. We hope to better engage business leaders, many of whom are not social media savvy and have been missing out on our virtual offerings’. A sneak preview of the page reveals that there are indeed interesting and relevant content for every business leader. Sub-columns such as PRACTICE UPDATE , which highlights emerging developments in the industry; QUOTED , quotable quotes from leaders of thought; 10THINGS , the frontline sec...

ThistlePraxis Consulting, a CSR Strategy and Assessments firm, is organizing a foremost continent-wide initiative aimed at building and strengthening human capacity for the Nigerian and African media industry on Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability reporting in Africa. The organizers say they are committed to identifying and fostering these series of trainings with other willing partners and corporate funders as well as other regional bodies. Forbes CSR Blogger and award-winning journalist, Aman Singh, will lead the team of facilitators for a continental development initiative aimed at building and strengthening human capacity development for the African media on Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability reporting in Africa tagged, ‘Effective CSR Reporting for Media Professionals’. Other facilitators include: Ken Egbas, Managing Partner, TruContact PR (organizers of SERAs/Nigeria CSR Awards); Ini Onuk, Lead Consultant/CEO, ThistlePraxis Consulting...

DISGRACE: COCA COLA exploitation in Imo State Crumbles. Irete Youths besiege Plant with Coffin - http://imostate.blog.com/2011/09/28/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2011/09/16/the-most-responsible-companies-another-ranking/

These days, the hottest term in Nigeria and in the media seems to have become corporate social responsibility (CSR). Everywhere you turn; there is a CSR consultant, expert, firm, and even event! Quite interestingly, it’s all lone efforts trying to preach the same gospel of sustainability and responsibility to businesses. In as much as I believe this may be not be an entirely unfamiliar territory for the great majority of businesses in Nigeria, and in terms of the real meaning of CSR and how to bring it to life, examples of best practices are few and far between at present. Although the words "corporate social responsibility" have been much bandied about in the media recently, it is harder than one might imagine to truly realize CSR in the day-to-day work of an enterprise, or to integrate it fully into a business strategy. It’s not uncommon in Nigeria to see this kind of band-wagon effect when a new bride comes to town but as usual, time always tells the bride that has come ...

There's been a buzz around the hosting of the Africa CEO Round-table and Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria by Nigerians. The arguments state that Nigeria is no example for the practice of corporate social responsibility and that our corporate and social investments are more of corporate philanthropy than for social impact. Interestingly, the interest generated by this upcoming event is much more than we have expected.  Big brands from Brazil, Angola, South Africa, Ghana, USA, and the Netherlands have called in to indicate interest in attending and partnering on this continental epoch making event whilst the Nigerian organizations are on the peripheries. Is this a sign that we are truly not ready for the discourse and evolution of what corporate social responsibility and sustainability is all about? If your brand or organization were to be measured by your CSR, sustainability and green initiatives, what will be your score? Have you ever measured the impact...