TABLOID REPORTS

Dear Gentlemen of the Press,

I welcome you to this media parley signaling the final run down to the now annual program called the Social enterprise Report and awards otherwise known as the SERAs which is aimed at promoting good corporate citizenship in Nigeria thru the instrumentality of corporate social responsibility (CSR)

It has indeed been a daunting task running this project which for us as a PR company was designed as a corporate behavioral change campaign. But gradually, we are beginning to see a ray of light at the end of the tunnel.

Today, we have just had the sitting of the SERA Jury. And one thing that is indeed clear is that gradually we are getting to the point where the quality of CSR implementation in Nigeria is actually improving as companies now understand that even though they desire to do good to their communities, they have to learn the right way to do good.

We have also stuck with our direction to measure the impact of brands CSR activities along the line of the Millennium development goals as set by the United Nations. As such on D-Day Which is September 24, 2010, winners will emerge in the following categories: Poverty Reduction, Education, Child and maternal health, HIV/AIDS and Malaria, Environmental sustainability, partnership for development. The  womens empowerment category was scrapped for poor quality. Other categories include: the most socially responsible bank, the most socially responsible telecom company, Best In sustainability reporting, Best company in youth friendly CSR and the Most Innovative CSR. And as is the usual practice, an overall winner will also be named.

The criteria used for selecting our winners include: guiding philosophies and vision behind stakeholder engagement, innovation, measurability, impact and sustainability.

The SERAs combine   a two-pronged strategy of Research and documentation (the Social Enterprise Reports) and a glamorous award ceremony which rivets public and media attention on the subject area. This two-part initiative constitutes the Social Enterprise Reports and Awards.

The Social Enterprise Reports are a compendium of research, best practices and insights from stakeholders highlighting the innovative ways that corporate organizations continue to engage with the people and the communities where they do business.

The Theme for 2010 is – Balancing Sustainability and Growth in an Uncertain Economy

The keynote Speeches will be presented by Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, the Executive chairperson, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and His Excellency, Rotimi Amaechi- the Executive Governor of Rivers State.

SERA is a project of  TruContact Limited organized in collaboration with Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Sustainability Advisory Group UK, The Guardian newspapers and Inspiration 92.3 FM.

As stated in earlier communications with your organization, the very best practices will be included in the fourth edition of the Nigeria Social Enterprise Report which will be launched at the event and in the Documentary which will be shown at the event and later aired on our partner television stations.

Many years ago, it was easy to position corporate organizations/ brands so far from community, to the point where the only thing that mattered and drove the relationships was the exchange of services or products for cash or profit. This holds true to date no doubt. The only difference is that in some cases some smart and futuristic organizations and brands have moved away from being long- distance friends and acquaintances to be close family relatives of community. That way there is a sharing of joy, hope and a few times, sadness. The space between brands and community has shrunk to the extent that organization and brands have become the community, and the community has become part of the brand. This has given birth to a new kind of loyalty, advocacy and enthusiasm which further powers profitability and mutually beneficial relationships.

In the immediate future, successful organizations/ brands or business will be in the vanguard of empowering community and members of that community to succeed so that they (organizations/brands) can also be more successful.

I started this conversation by stating how and why the SERAs project will go down probably as one of Nigeria’s most successful corporate behavioral change campaign. And all that would not have happened if we didn’t receive your support, my dear friends in the media. It is on this note that I invite all of you to the SERAs on D-Day. Come and celebrate the child that you helped to birth.