CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN TIMES OF CRISIS PROMOTES GOOD GOVERNANCE

What Covid19 globally reminds us, is about the duty of ‘ordinary humanity’.  Within the space of 3 months a disease sent the entire world to mandatory recess.  In the mid ‘80s it was famine in Africa that reminded the world of one tiny thread that binds humanity, such that crisis in one part raises much concern across the globe.

 Such concern drove British musicians to write ‘Do they know it’s Christmas’, a song that brought to the front burner the plight of under privileged in the society with powerful and prosperous individuals and corporate citizens. It was used to raise fund as corporate social responsibility. The  idea was copied by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson when they jointly produced a powerful song  USA for Africa: ‘We are the World’ which raised over $63 m in aid of African famine victims.

While the list of donors to the Presidential Task Force on Corona virus continues to rise, we can observe similar trend across the states. It is a battle where no part of the globe is isolated or safe. Like Dr Kwame Nkrumah said during colonial era after Ghana got independence, ‘The independence of Ghana shall be meaningless unless you link it up with the total liberation of Africa’, it’s unlikely that one part of the earth without Covid19 makes sense without ridding the nooks and cranny of the world of the menace.

Abia state is probably leading in the battled against Covid19, taking prevention as the strongest weapon. As at the time of this posting no record of any case of the disease.  Few reported cases showed negative.  Perhaps it is this spirit that led the high and the low making desperate efforts to remain neutral and free.

This spirit has been embraced by Abia state University Department of Epidemiology which developed a tracker that gives early warning about the presence of Covid19 in the state, which was not existent anywhere until this discovery.

Humanitarian individuals have been making money and resource donations to fight the scourge.  The government, apparently aware of the possibility of abuse while distributing aids to the needy through its administrative/political channels chose to use religious leaders and institutions even though it has its weaknesses.

The resolve and demonstration of Abia state government since the crisis is one that other states should adopt or even surpass in order to promote good corporate governance.  It is during crisis that leaders emerge, leadership prowess tested and best practices sustained.

 Iyke Ozemena Esq

Corporate Attorney/Consultant IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO

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