Etisalat, SON, ThistlePraxis Launch NIS: ISO 26000 Adoption Process

Etisalat Nigeria in collaboration with Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited have announced the launch of NIS: ISO 26000 at an event held in Lagos.

The Nigeria adoption ceremony sponsored by Etisalat is aimed at assisting organizations address their social responsibilities while respecting cultural, societal, environmental and legal differences as well as economic development conditions. 
ISO 26000 is an international guidance document on social responsibility that was first released on 1 November 2010.

It provides organisations with an outline of the principles and core subjects that it should be managing in order to identify societal risks and associated impacts.

The core subjects covered by the guidance includes but is not limited to areas such as organisational governance, human rights and labour practices, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues and community involvement and development.

Mr. Steven Evans, chief executive officer of Etisalat Nigeria said that through the adoption of the ISO 2600 process, organizations would gain global recognition as industry leaders and pioneer institutions in promoting social responsibility standards in Nigeria.
 
On Etisalat’s role in the process, Evans said, “At Etisalat, we understand the need to put in place sustainable business models and strategies that will address various sectors of the country we operate in; and it is in this light that we will continually offer our support to SON and ThistlePraxis to ensure global best practice when it comes to the practice of CSR in Nigeria.

Evans who was represented by Ndidi Okpaluba, director, PMO and Operational Strategy at Etisalat Nigeria, added that the initiative complements the Etisalat CSR Centre in partnership with the Lagos Business School of the Pan African University which is aimed at pushing the CSR agenda forward in Nigeria through research, executive trainings, conferences and seminars.

The standard has been adopted by other African countries such as Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, Senegal, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Ghana. Nigeria now joins the ranks of countries who have adopted the ISO 26000 in CSR.