SERAS Calls for Entry into 2016 Edition

Raheem Akingbolu

TruContact CSR Nigeria has called for entry into the SERAS- CSR Awards 2016 edition. The award, which is in its 10th edition, has earned its positioning as the most consistent Corporate Social Responsibility based award in this part of the world.

In a statement issued at the weekend, the organisers promised that the 2016 edition would be more exciting. The theme for the awards is: Sustainable Development Goals and The Future of Africa: Organisations as The Game Changers.

The statement further stated that assessments and categorisations would the based on the recent globally launched seventeen sustainable development goals.

“The theme is based on the launch of an ambitious global mission by the world leaders to reduce poverty and enhance human development.

Africa and Nigeria was only able to attain a little under 15% of expected target impacts.  But with the take-off of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) by the United Nations, businesses have been urged to take the driver’s seat in actualising this huge agenda. According to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, business is a “vital partner in achieving the sustainable development goals”.

However, the organisers have also announced that for the first time in its ten years’ history, the awards would be opened to entries from other parts of Africa.

The coordinator of the award, Mr. Ken Egbas was quoted as saying that when the exercise commenced the organisers had short, medium and long term goals.

“We expected by the tenth or eleventh year to make the awards accessible to all of Africa, that is after we must have proven our mettle in Nigeria which of course is not only one of the largest markets in Africa, but also at the moment Nigeria rates as number two the continent in terms of CSR and sustainability investment and related activities. Besides, over the last two editions we have had organisations in east and southern Africa wanting to participate. So we believe the time is right to open the SERAS to the rest of Africa. We are also on track to make the awards one of the top three of its kind in the world”, he stated.

Sterling Bank Backs Ogun Investment Forum

As part of its drive to collaborate with stakeholders in the growth of the nation’s economy both at the state and national levels, Sterling Bank has announced its sponsorship of the third edition of the Ogun State Investment Forum.
The theme of the two day event starting on May 9, 2016 is “Ogun State: Open for Business- Emerging Economic Powerhouse”.

The bank had also sponsored the 2014 edition of the programme and stands out as a major partner with other state governments especially in the area of education and economic development. Last year, the bank presented an e-library to the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti in Ekiti State and commissioned co-branded verve/identity cards which serve as access control system and identity management solution for staff and students of the Benue State University in Makurdi.

The bank, in a statement signed by its Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola explained that the involvement of the bank in the Forum was informed by the need for public – private partnership to achieving rapid economic development in Nigeria.

While commending the Ogun State government for opening the state for domestic and international investors, Atilola noted that the step taken by the government would accelerate the desired growth and development of the state’s economy curtailing the challenge of unemployment and improving the standard of living of her citizens.

The statement added: “The private sector operators must collaborate with both the states and Federal Government for any meaningful economic development to take place in the country. This has informed the Bank’s participation and support of laudable programmes that are aimed at changing the economic landscape of the country for the better.

“We have demonstrated this as a responsible corporate citizen by way of supporting the last edition of the Forum and other laudable projects from both the public and private sectors. We have thus truly established ourselves as a worthy partner with all stakeholders in the country.”