The global pandemic and its attendant effects on Nigeria’s economy and subsequently, its citizens have necessitated a shift in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) focus of Lagos Business School alumni.
At Lagos Business School, past and current classes are making efforts to alleviate the effects of the pandemic on vulnerable and less privileged members of various communities across Lagos. Although the Alumni community had made a commitment to focus its activities for the year on healthcare, youth empowerment and governance, current happenings and societal needs have necessitated a deviation from these focus areas.
Below is a list of relief activities carried out by past Executive MBA and Executive Education classes:
AGMP 13
In what is to be the first phase of food distribution to several communities, the Agribusiness Management Programme (AgMP 13) delivered packages containing food items to 50 families in Bariga, Lagos. The initiative targets 150 families within and outside Lagos. In addition, 30 bags of rice produced by an AgMP 13 alumnus was donated to another 30 families.
CEP 22
Members of the Chief Executive Programme (CEP 22) provided food items to 450 families including security officials in parts of Lagos Mainland and Island. According to the class, the decision to include security officials in the outreach was intentional as this category of essential workers has been instrumental in keeping communities safe for all during the lockdown and especially in the brief period of unrest experienced in parts of Lagos.
EMBA 4
Executive MBA (EMBA 4) alumni provided food items and educated the Sarkis (leaders) of the destitute/beggar community in Ebute Metta on the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of proper handwashing/ respiratory hygiene. The goal was to educate the leaders so that they can pass the preventive message on to the women, men and children in the community. To ensure that the message was clearly communicated, a Hausa language translator was part of the entourage.
EMBA 12
The Executive MBA (EMBA 12) class distributed food items and soaps to 70 families in the Ajah area. The class said it realised less privileged families will only be able to comply with the demands of the new reality, for example, the lockdown, if they have access to basic food items. The persistent call for handwashing as a means of preventing the coronavirus can only be heeded if there is access to soap and clean water hence the focus of its relief efforts.
EMBA 15
Executive MBA (EMBA 15) alumni visited the Egbeda/Idimu area with food items for widows and single mothers including 100 families. “It was a delight to put smiles on the faces of families and especially the women in these communities through the outreach. Service to society can be expressed in several ways and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigeria gave us, as a class, a channel to give back. It was also an opportunity for us to reunite after several years of graduating from Lagos Business School”, according to a statement by the class.
EMBA 16
Executive MBA (EMBA 16) carried out a food drive twice in April. In the first part, 340 family packs of food items were distributed to Lekki/Ajah residents, and 85 of such packs were handed to residents of Oworo, Ifako-Soluyi, Anthony-Mende and Ketu. In the second part which took place on Easter Sunday, 500 cooked meals were presented to residents of Lekki/Ajah while 100 family packs of food items were distributed on the Mainland.
EMBA 17
As a means of bolstering the Lagos state government’s efforts in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the state, the Executive MBA (EMBA 17) class donated 2400 bottles of 100ml hand sanitisers. The sanitisers were presented by the class president, Oluwafemi Adeniba and ex-officio, Osagie Esangbedo to the state’s Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Dr Moyosore Adejumo, among other principal officers.
EMBA 22
Executive MBA (EMBA 22) embarked on a food drive in association with the AuntLanda Bethel Foundation in response to distress calls. The Distribution Route focused on Barracks, Ojuelegba and surrounding communities.
OMP 17
Members of the Owner-Manager Programme (OMP 17) class distributed food items to 200 families in Bariga, Itedo, Makoko & Boundary-Ajegunle communities. Learnings from the Owner-Manager Programme stress the importance of social impact and as business owners who have imbibed this culture in our operations, members of the class said it was only right to extend a hand to communities that need it the most at this critical time.
These efforts are in addition to an initiative launched by the current Executive MBA class (EMBA 24) which provided relief materials to 200 families in Ikota and Yaba areas of Lagos.
Lagos Business School has a mission to provide education that emphasises service to the community, and in its teachings, harps on the need for social responsibility.
