Professor Advocates Responsible Business CSR Model at UNN 199th Inaugural Lecture
Professor Joseph Uduji advocates for a CSR approach tailored to Nigeria's needs, emphasizing poverty alleviation, healthcare, and education, diverging from Western standards.
Mary Nwaeze 
In a thought-provoking discourse, Professor Joseph Uduji, a distinguished academic from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), championed the cause of a responsible business Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) model tailored to address Nigeria's unique socio-economic challenges. Delivering the University's 199th Inaugural Lecture, Prof. Uduji emphasized the need for CSR initiatives to prioritize issues such as poverty alleviation, healthcare, infrastructure, and education, aligning them with the socio-cultural fabric of the nation.
Highlighting the disparity between Nigeria's CSR landscape and Western standards, Prof. Uduji stressed the importance of contextualizing CSR efforts to suit Nigeria's realities. He urged businesses to focus on fundamental needs rather than mirroring international trends like green marketing and climate change concerns.
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In a post-lecture interview, Prof. Uduji reiterated the significance of addressing basic societal needs, considering the government's shortcomings in certain areas. He emphasized the necessity of philanthropy and CSR initiatives in filling these gaps, particularly in light of Nigeria's prevailing socio-economic conditions.
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Looking ahead, Prof. Uduji outlined his future research trajectory, emphasizing a focus on social responsibility, justice, and inequality. He underscored the need for targeted interventions to empower women, alleviate poverty, and address youth unemployment, identifying these as critical areas for Nigeria's development.
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The Deputy Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu, commended Prof. Uduji's scholarly contributions and echoed the call for companies to prioritize CSR in their interactions with host communities.
Prof. Uduji's lecture marks a significant milestone in advancing the discourse on CSR in Nigeria, urging stakeholders to embrace a model that addresses the country's unique challenges while fostering sustainable development.
As Nigeria navigates its developmental trajectory, the insights shared by Prof. Uduji serve as a guiding beacon towards building a more inclusive and socially responsible business environment.
