The Ogun State Government has called on businesses to be more deliberate and intentional about giving back to their host communities through impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.
Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, made the call during a tour of International Breweries Plc Gateway Plant, Bara, close to Sagamu Interchange, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.
Sofela was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Sunday Oyesanya, on the tour, which was also attended by members of the state chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), led by its chairman, Mr. George Onafowokan.
Others present included officials of the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS), as well as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The Commissioner called on companies to avoid giving mere tokens to the communities, adding that contributions made through impactful CSR projects would complement government efforts and ensure peaceful co-existence with host communities.
"Corporates seem to believe that once you have paid your taxes, you have fully met your obligations. That is not true. Payment of taxes is obligatory to the government. Contributions to the state government or to state revenue are not as consequential. We need to do more, particularly for the local community. Our CSR should not be tokenism; it should be actual projects that impact communities," Sofela charged.
Speaking earlier, the Plant Manager of International Breweries Plc, Gateway Plant, Mr. Akintayo Oguntunde, said that as part of its sustainability drive, over 90 percent of the company's raw materials were sourced locally, adding that efforts were being made by stakeholders in the industry to successfully cultivate malted barley in the country to avoid dependence on imported raw materials.
Assuring the company's willingness to continue giving back to the host communities, Oguntunde noted that over ₦36,560,000 had so far been disbursed to 425 beneficiaries as grants through the company’s Kick Start programme, while various CSR projects such as potable water, electrification, and smart agriculture initiatives had also been executed.
