Not less than N250 million has been spent on corporate social responsibility (CSR) across the country by Sifax Group in 2021, the conglomerate has said.
The conglomerate which has investments in maritime, aviation, logistics, oil and gas, financial services and hospitality, said in a statement made available to Maritime Bits that its CSR is focused primarily on four key areas of human endeavor.
These include education, health, economic empowerment for youth and women, as well as the physically-challenged in the society.
On education and health, it said hundreds of indigent students enjoyed full scholarship while equipment and facilities were donated to public educational and health institutions just as she added that individuals with medical emergencies also received financial support.
According to it, youth and women economic empowerment also took a large chunk of the budget with skill acquisition trainings organized for unemployed youths and women across the country. Business grants were also extended to those who completed the training programmes. Some targeted and disadvantaged poor households were also catered to as food items were donated to them on a monthly basis.
Continuing, it said: “Various initiatives targeted at the physically-challenged children living with conditions like autism, Down syndrome and the blind were also supported by the company in the course of the year. Most of these projects were executed through its philanthropic arm, Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF) which has offices in Lagos, Zaria and Umuahia.
Speaking on the 2021 CSR projects, the Group Executive Vice Chairman, Sifax Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi said one of the key pillars of the company’s business philosophy is to positively impact humanity and the society in any economy where the company carries out its operations.
His words: “Right from the inception of our company in 1988, we have integrated social impact into our business strategy. Our businesses are not designed for profit making alone. We see ourselves as a platform that support social causes that provide access to opportunities, engender social stability and economic prosperity. We are motivated to do more when we see the physical impact of these CSR projects on the beneficiaries who today run into thousands.”
On her part, the Executive Coordinator, AAAF, Foluke Ademokun noted that the beneficiaries of the various programmes are making a judicious use of the opportunities.
She added that the foundation seeks to partner with more sponsors, both domestic and international, as well as other stakeholders, in order to touch more lives.
