SERA 2008
The 2008 Social Enterprise Reports and Awards (SERA), drew a capacity and high profile audience who witnessed the presentation of awards to companies (and individuals) who have contributed in significant ways to social development through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and other activities.
The event which took place at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre last Friday, August 15, commenced at 5pm with a red-carpet and cocktail segment. The Social Enterprise Report 2008 was also unveiled at the event by Ambassador Segun Olusola, the chair and Founder of African Refugees Foundation (AREF) and the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
A project of TruContact Communications Limited in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), SERA is designed to promote growth, sustainable development and livelihoods in Nigeria by rewarding Corporate Organizations as well as individuals who have contributed to social giving and social transformation of Nigeria.
The theme for the 2008 SERA - “Beyond Rhetoric: making your CSR count” – draws attention to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations and highlights the contributions of corporate organizations to achieving the MDGs in Nigeria; with a focus on projects implemented between January 2007 to May 2008.
In his welcome address, the Managing Partner of TruContact, Mr. Ken Egbas recognized the partner organizations for the 2008 SERA. He said: “I am excited to have our partners here – the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), and the United Nations children Fund (UNICEF). SERA has indeed come of age”.
The President of NIPR, Prof. Ike Nwosu also gave a welcome address. He said: “NIPR is solidly behind SERA because we understand stakeholder relations and we know that businesses that will grow and stand the test of time in this global and competitive era are those who constantly feel the pulse of their stakeholders and strive to meet their needs. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a potent tool for reaching out to stakeholders, especially within our socio-economic and political context”.
The keynote address was delivered by Chairperson of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru and Prof Pat Utomi, Director of the Lagos Business School.
While MTN emerged again the overall winner, just as in 2007, taking home the award for The Most Socially Responsible Company in Nigeria 2008, as well as the awards for the categories of Women Empowerment (MDG3) and for the Most Socially Responsible Company in the Telecommunications sector, Zenith Bank PLC and Guinness Nigeria PLC gave MTN stiff competition; emerging as 1st and 2nd Runners Up respectively.
The coveted, golden, SERA statuette went to other winners including the most socially responsible companies in the following categories: Poverty Reduction –MDG 1 (Western Union); Education- MDG 2 (Bank PHB); Child Health – MDG 4 (Glaxosmithkline); Maternal Health –MDG 5 ( Lulu-Briggs Foundation); Combating HIV/AIDS and Malaria – MDG 6 (UNILEVER); Environmental Sustainability –MDG7 (Guinness); Partnership for Development- MDG 8 (Coca-cola).
Other awards included the most socially responsible companies in the: Banking Sector (Zenith Bank); Foods and Beverages (Coca-cola); Manufacturing (BATN); Arts and Culture (Fidelity Bank); Safety and Environment (Union Bank).
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) sponsored the award category – the Most Socially Responsible Company in Child-Centred CSR which went to De-United Foods (Indomie).
Joseph Chibueze of Financial Standard won the Tunmise Adekunle Media Award for CSR Reporting which was inaugurated at the 2008 SERA, in memory of a Nigerian journalist who died earlier in the year and was a member of the 2007 SERA Organizing Committee.
The public had the opportunity to participate in voting for the Personality of the Year and Most Voted Company 2008 both by SMS and on the TruContact website. The results were provided by Mr. Celestine Uzor, CEO SMS Nigeria; the company that was in-charge of the voting exercise. Personality of the Year went to lawyer, acclaimed author, publisher and philanthropist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and the award for the Most Voted Company went to Bank PHB.
Two state governors, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) received the SERA recognition plaque for “Sound Environmental Practices (MDG7)” and the Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau for Education (MDG2). The awards for the Lagos and Kano State governors were received by their representatives – General Manager, Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority, Sulaimon A. Yusuf, and the Hon. Commissioner, Project Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Kano State, Ibrahim Garba.
Companies and individuals who have also contributed to the areas of interest for SERA – social and economic development - received the SERA recognition plaques, including: the Dangote Group; Dr. Erastus Akingbola; Otunba Mike Adenuga; Dr. Newton Jibunoh (Fight Against Desert Encroachment; Mrs. Betty Irabor, Dr. Ameen Al Deen Abubakar; and Chief (Mrs.) O. B. Lulu-Briggs.
Yinka Davies rendered the Nigerian National anthem and Obiwon sang the SERA Anthem and thrilled the audience; and the Mask performed a dance drama.
Date Published: 8/29/2008 10:36:00 AM
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