Globally, many business concerns are embracing CSR initiatives to not only empower communities but connect with communities for healthy, prosperous and sustainable business. They believe that it is only when communities are well-off that businesses can become strong and grow. This report looks at such CSR investments and community interlink.
CSR a global phenomenon
In today’s socially conscious environment, organisations now place huge premium on corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a means of advancing both public good and corporate citizenship. As it is in other developed climes, Nigeria is not left out. In Nigeria alone, CSR has become an evolving business practice that incorporates sustainable development into a company’s business model. In view of this, the impact of CSR cannot therefore be over-emphasised especially considering investment allotted to it by many organisations.
Until recently, a handful of corporate organizations in Nigeria consider CSR as the last item on their agenda. However, it seems things appear to have changed with companies now paying huge attention to it while at the same time pursing profit in the overall interest of the business.
Till date, many organizations in Nigeria are singled out not because of the brand’s image created in the market space but rather as a result of the impact or value created by quality of investment in the area of CSR.
Among organisations that are already toeing this path, it is Nigerian Bottling Company Limited given the new narrative created by its recent investments in CSR.
NBC community initiatives
Just recently, the desire to create a new narrative with CSR came into reality as Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, NBC; the non-alcoholic beverage giant inaugurated several education and water projects in Kano state. The project, according to the Memorandum of Understanding, is poised to impact no fewer than one million people in about 20 communities living within and around the area where the business operates.
The list of the projects that were inaugurated and presented to the people include a refurbished Kano State Water Board Laboratory in Panshekara, the provision of Ultra-modern Water Testing equipment for the laboratory, two Tube Wells drilled and connected to the Main Water Supply Network that directly provides water to about one million residents around the Madobi area, a block of Classrooms and furniture donated to Medile Primary School and the provision of Water Supply to Challawa community.
In addition to this, the company also facilitated the training of senior managers from the Kano State Water Board on Performance Management and Team Maintenance. The company also laid 15 kilometers of new environmentally friendly High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) water pipe lines and conducted a training for Kano State Water Board (KBSWB) technicians trained on maintenance of the special HDPE Pipes.
To the management of NBC, the provision of these facilities and projects come as a fitting reward for the tremendous goodwill and relentless support received from Kano state government as well as people of the state since it commenced operations in 1982.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony for all the projects, the representative of Managing Director of Kano State Water Board, who is the General Manager, Productions of the State Water Board, Ibraheem Saad who expressed gratitude to NBC for its unwavering commitment and support from the conceptualization of the projects to their successful execution, explained that the Water Board was happy to note that these investments would bringing lasting solution to the water challenges confronting parts of the state.
While presenting the water and education projects to the people of the state, the Managing Director, NBC, George Polymenakos, expressed his profound appreciation to the Kano State Government for its invaluable support to the Coca-Cola system over the years stressing that the delivery of these community projects comes as a fulfilment of the company’s pledged contribution to the development of the state and the nation as a whole.
“We believe that our communities are the bedrock of our business. If our communities are healthy, prosperous and sustainable, only then can our business become strong and grow. This is why we invest in viable programs such as these to develop the productive capacity of the people and drive the sustainable development of our communities”, he said.
With regards to the education projects delivered by NBC, he said “Education is one of the most important investments a country can make in its people and its future. In line with this, we have constructed a block of classrooms with staff office and provided furniture for pupils of Medile Primary School, Kano. This, we hope, will support government’s efforts at bringing education to the doorstep of every child,”
He revealed that the company spent over 4 million Euros on the various projects as a reflection of the confidence the company has in doing business in the state adding that this further demonstrates its commitment to the wellbeing of the communities where it does business.
In his own remarks, the representative of the Emir of Kano, the Seriki Fulani Jaedanawa of Kano, Abubakar Gwadabe Buhari commended NBC for its show of concern and commitment in meeting some of the important needs of communities in the state.
“As a district head, I know the sufferings of our rural communities. I must say NBC has done well in alleviating their hardship. Let me quickly add that the Emir of Kano is indeed happy with these projects given the fact that it addresses two major challenges, education and water availability in these communities” he said.
On his part, Group Quality, Safety & Environment Director, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), Zoltan Syposs who was part of the conceptualization of the idea that birthed the projects commended the Kano State Government alongside NBC team on the successful completion saying that the projects form part of Coca-Cola Hellenic 2025 commitment that is focused on making the environment sustainable.
In his remarks, Water Resources & Technologies Manager, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), Nils Deeke who flew in from Switzerland for the inauguration said the investment in Kano state is in line with the commitment to give back to the society while also playing a crucial role in the economic development of the state.
“It is not just enough to sell our products, we want to make positive impact in the lives of people as well as the communities around us. As we speak, over 20 communities have been provided with water supplies. We will also build capabilities that would ensure that the facilities provided are well maintained”, he explained.
In 2015 alone, the company renovated 4 blocks of 13 classes and 2 staff rooms, made provision for chairs or tables for over 1200 Pupils’ Teachers in LEA Zwaciki, clean-up of Challawa tannery waste dumpsite. Aside that, the company took it ‘Back to School Initiative’ to Kano, donating 1,500 School back to Schools pack to Gidan Makama Primary School.
Until now, access to portable and drinking water was a rarity to residents of these communities in Kano state. Now with the provision of these facilities, it is hoped that this challenge will become a thing of the past.
Abdullahi Gimba, a resident of one of the benefitting communities described the construction of water facilities as a great privilege to the community. According to him, this facility would contribute a great deal to save families a lot of stress in their daily search to get water.
“We are so happy to have this project in this community. This is the first time we will have pipe-borne water in this community”, Gimba said.
For companies such as NBC that have chosen to tread the path of PPP, the ongoing support of the government in essential to create an enabling business environment, to allow the private institutions deliver on their business goals as they support the government to do even more for its people.
Speaking on NBC’s plans for Kano, Polymenakos said, “having secured water availability for our operations, we are committed to scaling up our business in Kano by intentionally investing in the injection of new production lines in our Challawa Plant to create employment for the youth while meeting the needs of our consumers in State.” He further promised that the company would continue with an annual scholarship program for the top 10 pupils graduating from Medile Primary School.
