Nigerian Bourse Wins Best CSR Company Award in New York

The Nigerian Stock Exchange’s efforts to at promoting corporate social responsibility and sustainability received boost recently when the bourse was honored with the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Company Award in New York, United States at the African Business Awards. 

The African Business Awards, launched in 2008 by African Business magazine, is designed to celebrate excellence in African businesses, by recognizing the individuals and companies that are driving Africa’s rapidly transforming economy and creating new socio-economic opportunities for citizens and communities all over the continent.

The Managing Director of IC Publications and Group Publisher of African Business magazine, Mr. Omar Ben Yedder said “It is encouraging to read the many achievements that are taking place all over the continent, despite the headwinds and difficult global environment. 

The continent continues to be blessed with some remarkable individuals, who are driven and relentless in their ambitions to playing a transformative role. The calibre of entries is very high and continues to reflect and recognise Africa’s outstanding individuals and businesses. 

These entries are assessed by a judging panel of renowned individuals who are chosen for their expertise on the African Business Industry, with scores based on a set of qualitative and quantitative criteria”.

THE JOURNEY TO DOING GOOD
In 2013, The NSE took a bold step towards the actualization of its CSR programme by establishing a CSR Unit and the institution of a CSR strategy. This unveiling was part of the overall corporate transformation agenda of the bourse led by Oscar N. Onyema.

With a vision to be the foremost Africa’s securities exchange with core values of transparency, teamwork, integrity and professionalism, the exchange is committed to promoting market-based approach to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) imperatives.

The NSE plays a vital role in the economy of Nigeria by providing businesses with a platform for raising capital, and providing institutional and retail investors with the opportunity to invest through a robust market infrastructure that is anchored on the good governance and fair play.

This unique positioning to support growth in Africa’s largest economy comes with significant responsibilities.  It is therefore imperative that the NSE provides an efficient and sustainable capital market that creates long-term value for its varied stakeholders by embracing opportunities, whilst at the same time managing the risks that derive from economic, environmental and social change.

According to the NSE, it therefore focused its strategy and the CSR governance structure to supports three central ambitions:

To make responsible and sustainable business practices a core competence of our organisation, integrated into our daily business decisions and operations
To provide opportunities for our stakeholders to make positive contributions towards a sustainable future Support the disclosure and provision of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) data to enable market participants to integrate these considerations into their investments activities and decisions.

THE FOUR PILLARS OF DOING GOOD
In line with global CSR best practice, NSE developed a strategic framework that sets out its  commitments and priorities against four key impact areas for our business based on the material CSR risks and opportunities linked to the long-term success of the NSE and our stakeholders.

-Naija247News