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The Social Enterprise Reports. Click To View The 2008 Social Enterprise Reports. Review
   

Review On the 2007 Social Enterprise Reports.

Introduction
“ We see all around us the reality that value is more than what is in one’s bank account – it is social, it is environmental, it is beyond what can be calculated with traditional econometrics..” Jed Emerson, The Case Foundation

Text Box: Social Enterprise “the contributions that any individual or organization can make toward social improvement, regardless of its legal form (nonprofit, private, or public-sector). This approach challenges the traditional view of nonprofit organizations and corporations as largely dichotomous (or even adversarial), focusing instead on the belief that these organizations individually and collaboratively can generate significant social value. Engagement with communities and the social sector is viewed as crucial and strategically important for businesses in order to realize their private goals and their societal role” (Harvard Business School). To promote growth,   sustainable development and livelihoods in Nigeria,  The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in collaboration with TruContact Communications presents the Nigeria Social Enterprise Reports and Awards 2007. 

The Nigerian Social Enterprise Reports recognize  and celebrate  the role of corporate organizations in social giving and social transformation in Nigeria. Thus, the reports are a compendium of best practices, highlighting the innovative  ways that these organisations continue to engage with the people and the communities where they do business.  We believe that the future of public relations for any business lies in the ability to successfully  bridge the divide between private enterprise and public interest.

The presentation and launch of the report as well as the award ceremony will take place on July 19, 2007 at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre  and will commence at 6pm.

                                                                                
Why the Enterprise Reports Are Important

The United Nations Human Development Report  which have been issued in recent years have  placed Nigeria among the poorer and less developed  countries of the world.  And it is widely known that 70% of the world’s populations live below the poverty line of US$1 a day.  With the gradually worsening social situation in Nigeria, the once rich nation is now placed amongst the least developed countries in the world.

In addition,  the various economic programmes  (Structural Adjustment Programmes ) that have been implemented over the last decades have seen the continued rolling back of State support  to critical welfare sectors such as education and health. This has left the generality of Nigerians more impoverished and needy.  Yet, with globalization and the enthronement of market economies globally, Nigerians, in spite of the economic hardships and the absence of  social safety nets, must also survive within this competitive  and harsh global economy.

The liberalization, commercialization and privatization initiatives of the Nigerian economy by successive  government administrations in line with global trends has brought about increase in investment  and private business and in the non-governmental organisations sector. Profits and wealth has also increased. This is certainly welcome for the growth and development of the country. Public-private partnerships are necessary to improve the socio-economic well-being of the people and drive the engine of development in other sectors.

Some organisations have shown leadership in GIVING  and support of the social sectors in  Nigeria and we believe that this is a good example that should be openly acclaimed so that more organisations will emulate these leaders. “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich” said United States President, the late John F. Kennedy in his landmark inaugural address in 1960. This is true, especially today when the gap between the rich and poor has widened  so remarkably.

Text Box: “It is well to remember that it requires the exercise of not less ability than that which acquires it, to use wealth so as to be really beneficial to the community” – Andrew Carnegie The erroneous view that the sole purpose of any business is to make profit at the expense of every other  factor has changed. A more humane and sustainable mark of excellence in terms of measuring an organization’s success is how the organization gives back to the society.  Certainly, making profit is of the utmost importance,  but no business can be both successful and SUSTAINABLE without having a good relationship with the community where it operates. How can a business have a good relationship with its community if it does not improve the environment and the wellbeing of the stakeholders that sustain the enterprise?

Methodology
The  Nigerian Social Enterprise Reports will document the best practices in social giving  and social entrepreneurship in Nigeria.  SERA will  thus  recognize, reward Good Corporate Citizenship and stimulate others to embrace the culture of  social giving to enrich the lives of stakeholders in the  communities where they operate.

The projects adjudged to have made the most impact in each of the underlisted  categories will be highlighted in the report which will also make mention of  all the main competing entries.

In order to carefully assess the entries for SERA 2007, corporate Nigeria has been divided into the following categories:

  1. Manufacturing
  2. Banking 
  3. Insurance
  4. Foods and Beverages
  5. Oil and Gas
  6. Media
  7. Information Technology
  8. Aviation
  9. Telecommunication
  10. Healthcare /Pharmaceuticals
  11. Not-for-Profit 

A call for entries will be widely disseminated through the mass media (radio, television and print). Based on the eligibility criteria below, entries will be assessed and a shortlist of three entries per category will be determined by our distinguished and eminent judges.