Ini's MUSE

THE recent national debate over an alleged “gift” of a church building from an Italian company – Gitto Construzioni Generalli Nigeria Limited (CGC) – to President Jonathan’s hometown (Otuoke, Bayelsa State), together with the Central Bank’s financial donations to some State Governments, raises a fundamental question about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria: Is CSR mainly about corporate philanthropy or could there be more to it? In a study I conducted about 6 years ago with some colleagues (Amaeshi, Adi, Ogbechie and Amao, 2006 - Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria: Indigenous practices or Western influences?, Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 24: 83-99), we found that corporate philanthropy – also known as corporate community investment or corporate giving – was the dominant understanding of CSR in Nigeria. That understanding is still very much the case today. This has included donations to schools, hospitals, local communities, prisons and orphanag...

"Nigeria is one of the worst business destinations" ---World Bank | Daily Times Nigeria

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...

The government of Nigeria’s removal of fuel subsidy on petroleum products (Premium Motor Spirit) – through her regulatory agency, Petroleum Product and Regulatory Agency (PPRA) on January 1, 2012 – increased the unit cost from 65.00 NGN (0.40 USD) to 143.00 NGN (0.90 USD). This development came on the heels of a declaration of State of Emergency in some parts of the Northern Region on December 31 after weeks of terrorism and sporadic bomb blasts mainly in churches and other public spaces. Protests on the streets of Nigeria In the official release which read, ‘Following extensive consultation with stakeholders across the nation, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) wishes to inform all stakeholders of the commencement of formal removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), in accordance with the powers conferred on the agency by the law establishing it, in compliance with Section 7 of PPPRA Act, 2004’. Whilst the proposed policy promises sustain...