The Brief Academy and Co-development Hub has presented the Impact Ventures Series (IVP) to promote Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) culture by businesses in the country.
In a stakeholder engagement, entrepreneurs from different fields of human endeavour highlighted the impact of CSR in the business ecosystem especially for the success of startups.
In response to the widespread lack of understanding about CSR among businesses especially in the startup world, young entrepreneurs are observed to focus solely on profit and growth, neglecting their social and environmental impact.
They made these assertions during an engagement with Impact Venture Series Programme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, who promises to push the ideas discussed to Nigerian startups through podcasts.
The Project Manager, Impact Venture Series, Augustina Okpechi, stated that people often start business without considering cooperate social responsibility and Impact Venture Series will help address this concern through three major ways.
Her words, “the Impact Venture Series Programme will be in three phases. First is the engagement we are currently having in order to gain an understanding of CSR and issues around it and how it can make startups successful.
“Secondly we are going to build up this conversation in to a podcast series in other to reach out to as many startups as possible and lastly, we would be working with business (startups), especially those that show interest, to help them navigate how they can incorporate and leverage on CRS in their business activities.”
The entrepreneurs discussing further uphold that in the startup world which is often viewed as “lavish” or avenue to only secure “grants” and “sponsorship” CSR can be merged with organisational goal as the business evolves.
More examinations indicate many startups wanting to take and not give back to host society or environment.
Impact Venture Series Programme is designed to reform the startup ecosystem in Nigeria by fostering a culture of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among entrepreneurs and business owners
The programme’s goal is to create a movement that advocates for reforms to support the youth and startup ecosystem, encouraging businesses to embrace responsible entrepreneurship.
The IVP is also supported with funding from the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund.