By Steve Dede
Nigerian singer Tosin Martins and Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde have called on Nigerian legislators to make Corporate Social Responsibility compulsory by law.
‘It should be bound by law so nobody can escape it. It is too important to be ignored,’ the singer said during the Social Responsibility session of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Supporting Tosin Martins’ motion, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde who delivered the keynote on social responsibility urged Nigeria to follow in the footsteps of countries like India and America, which have laws that favour CSR.
‘Look at a country like India that has made it a must by law to be engaged in CSR. America also makes it easy for you to do that. Things like having to reduce tax for people who engage in CSR. Angelina Jolie does not do all those charity works because she only wants or loves to, she does these things because an enabling environment has been created for her,’ the actress revealed.
Yemi Adamolekun, one of the panellists at the session, advised citizens to take it upon themselves to always engage in CSR.
‘CSR is not for entertainers alone. Everybody should be involved. The citizens should take responsibility also; we don’t have to be waiting for the entertainers, celebrities and the government alone. You can’t have a government without the people,’ the rights advocate said.
Another panellist, Sam Onyemelukwe, called on entertainers to be truthful and transparent when engaging in CSR.
‘It doesn’t have to be with cameras and pressmen. Do the little you can and be truthful with it,’ Sam said during the session.
The Social Responsibility session was moderated by co-founder of the Future Awards Emilia Asim-Ita.