Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) have emerged the 2017 Best
Nigerian companies in Sustainability Innovation in Africa, beating two other
finalists at the 11th edition of the Sustainability, Enterprise and
Responsibility Awards (SERAs) for Corporate Social Responsibility held in Lagos,
at the weekend, reports ITRealms.
Shell companies also defeated three other contestants to win
as the Best Company in Affordable and Clean Energy, and got the second
runner-up prize for the Most Socially Responsible Nigerian Company for the
year.
“We’re delighted at the continued recognition of our modest
support to Nigeria and Nigerians to make life better and to create
opportunities to individuals and institutions, particularly in our host
communities,” said the Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development
Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and country Chair, SCiN, Mr. Osagie Okunbor.
“We are challenged by these laurels to do even more as CSR
remains part of the DNA of the Shell business, and we are striving to improve
our partnership with NGOs, government and communities to ensure our people
participate more in the execution of programmes and own them for greater
sustainability,” he added.
Leveraging its support for entrepreneurs for bright energy
ideas through the globally acclaimed Shell LiveWIRE programme, SPDC showcased
its numerous social intervention programmes including the training and
empowerment of hundreds of youths particularly in its host communities to
clinch the prize as the best company in affordable and clean energy.
The sustainability innovation award resulted from the
renewable energy solution as an alternative for powering the Shell-supported
Obio cottage hospital, Port Harcourt which led to significant cost savings in
energy consumed and enabled the hospital to focus its resources on its core
aspiration of providing quality healthcare for the people. Due to its success,
the solution has been replicated in seven other Shell-supported health
facilities in the Niger Delta.
The SERA–CSR Awards is an annual event to celebrate
organisations investing resources in the improvement of lives of stakeholders
and contributing to the development of Africa through their social performance
and investment programmes.
A total of twenty-six awards were won by corporate
organisations and individuals in recognition of their sustainable development
and social investment efforts in Africa.
Apart from their three winning entries, Shell companies also
got nominated in four other categories: Best Company in Poverty Eradication;
Best Company in Provision of Clean Water and Sanitation; Best Company in
Partnership for Development; and Best Company in Support of SMEs.
Shell Companies in Nigeria – SPDC, Shell Nigeria Exploration
and Production Company (SNEPCo), and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) work with
government, communities and civil society to implement programmes that have a
lasting impact on lives in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as whole. Social
investment activities focus on community and enterprise development, education,
health, access-to-energy and since 2016, road safety. This, however, excludes
community-driven development programmes and initiatives delivered through the
Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) which focuses on various themes as
determined by benefiting communities.
In 2016 alone, Shell Companies in Nigeria spent $29.8million
on social investment projects and awarded 94 percent of their contracts valued
at over $0.74billion to Nigeria companies while $1.4 billion was paid to the
Nigerian government in royalties and corporate taxes, and another $106.8million
contributions made to the NDDC as required by law.
Since 2003, SPDC and SNEPCo have trained over 6,550 Niger
Delta youths in enterprise development and have awarded scholarship grants to
over 7,652 secondary school students and 4,435 university students in the last
six years.
Ayo Midele/GEE
pic: L– R: Partnerships Coordinator, Social Performance and Social Investment ,The Shell Petroleum Development Company Company, Anike Kakayor; Strategy and Value Assurance Manager, Godwin Ikuwe; and Clinical Health Adviser, Dr.Olayinka Mosuro, at the 2017 SERAs-CSR Awards in Lagos
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