All over the world Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is attracting attention as disasters resulting from natural occurrences are in the increase and even taking a larger dimension thereby necessitating cooperation and attention towards alleviating the sufferings of people hit by such disasters.
Whether in this area or in the establishment of programmes on health, education, environmental safety and protection, and on entrepreneurial development, courier companies have shown good corporate citizenship.
Jude Ugwoke, general manager, IFEX Express Courier submits that CSR is a long term survival strategy of a company based on adding value to a company’s image.
Laying credence to Herbert Simon, Ugwoke emphasized that companies must be involved in Corporate Social Responsibility as every company is made up of internal and external environments, which interrelate with various units to make or mar the survival of the organization.
He also said that CSR can be used to create more awareness about the services of a company and that "when a company is engaged in building of roads, assisting students among others, it is adding value to the image and service of the company as well as providing utility service to the community. From the above, the company is endearing itself to the community for more patronage and greater awareness. From the capitalist point of view, Ugwoke said that CSR is non-profit oriented but that it is engaged by companies which see tomorrow from today," Ugwoke philosophized.
Describing CSR as IFEX long-term survival strategy, he said that the company through its chairman has responded to the CSR need of churches and schools in Yaba, Lagos as well as awarded scholarships to indigent students in Lagos and at home, and in providing borehole water to Enugwu-Ezike community in Nsukka.
Other local and international courier companies are also in their various capacities contributing to CSR.
DHL for instance believes that commitment to corporate citizenship is a fundamental part of achieving sustained value creation for both society and company towards ensuring the sustainability of the company as Ugwoke earlier espoused, and as a service delivery company.
The company also believes that being a good corporate citizen requires building successful partnerships with its customers, suppliers and community which it believes is critical to establishing a trusted brand and reputable company.
DHL Nigeria as part of the global company established a partnership with UNICEF on ongoing basis to donate one percent of employees’ annual salary running into millions of naira to the UNICEF polio project.
Last year, it donated N6.5m to this project and also made a donation of a 27KVA generator set worth N1.3m to a less privilege home in Lagos among several other donations to other projects.
UPS has also been involved in community projects spanning millions of naira.
Red Star Foundation, an arm of Red Star Express is a not-for-profit organization established by the company to coordinate the company’s charitable gestures.
The foundation is endowed by the company to provide support for approved projects on a sustainable basis.
Tony Anunobi general manager CTN Express Ltd having viewed the gains deniable from CSR has therefore suggested that government should make it mandatory for organizations to pay certain amount of money as Corporate Social Responsibility every year to make sure that the environment they are doing business is protected and people living in those environments are also protected while disclosing that as a CSR citizen the outfit along with the parent body have under the supervision of the chairman responded to various areas of need to people and communities part of which is the construction of 10km road in the chairman’s village.
Anunobi said lack of CSR has generated tension and strife in certain areas as community people feel exploited by companies doing business in such communities and summarized by saying that no company can survive under a harsh environment.
Some other CSR initiatives cover wider perspectives and not limited to a particular environment. FEDEX in providing in-kind shipping for more than two million pounds of relief aid to those affected during the 2005 hurricane season or in working with more than 20 governments and relief organizations to deliver more than one million supplies following the tsunamis in Southeast Asia and in transporting relief supplies for victims of earthquakes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India has distinguished itself as a world player in the express business as well as a good corporate citizen.
CSR no doubt is a good strategy, which national and international courier firms should hold onto to ensure sustain ability in business.
