The Professor of Strategic Management and the Dean at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Chris Ogbechie, has enjoined sustainability practitioners in the country to be more strategic in their approach towards corporate social responsibility because the sector has become a big driver for innovation. Ogbechie spoke at the inaugural induction of members of the Association of Sustainability Practitioners of Nigeria (ASPN) on the theme: “Importance of professionalizing sustainability in Nigeria.” He charged the practitioners to brace up and create the necessary opportunities that would enable organizations to give more recognition to the sector.
According to the academia, “We want more of you (practitioners) at the board level because if you are there, your vision for the organization will be well explained and interpreted. But, if you are not there, you’ll only execute other people’s ideas.” He further stated that “Practitioners need to level up and have great impact that would ensure that professionals are elevated to the board level, where decisions concerning the organizations are taken. This will help deepen the sector and reposition the industry.”
The ASPN had its first induction ceremony in Lagos recently, with both young and established practitioners being inducted into the association for greater effect. Speaking virtually, the President of the Association, who is also the Director of Scaling Business in Africa Consortium at the University of Edinburgh Business School, United Kingdom, Prof Kenneth Amaeshi, said that the Association is happy to be inducting its first set of members. According to him, “Our induction ceremony is a major milestone for us because it is our maiden edition. We also consider it a major milestone in Nigeria, in view of our role in nation building. We are determined to redefine corporate responsibility, and economic, environmental, social, and governance practices in the country.”
Meanwhile, the ASPN Director of Communications, Mrs. Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, stated, “At ASPN, we are convinced that with our dream to set professional ethical standards for sustainability, professionals will drive best practices and long-term thinking amongst individuals and businesses, and will go a long way to promote sustainable development in Nigeria”. She noted that 44 individuals that have completely met the criteria of membership were inducted as members, associate members, full members and fellows of the association.
