By Suleiman Umaru
For the first time in Nigeria, the most populous country in the African Continent, Transnational Corporation plc, popular, Transcorp, listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, and the most diversified Conglomerate with a diversified shareholder base of about 300,000, which had investments in the country’s Hospitality brand of business, Power, and Energy sector of the economy appears to have moved a step further to invest in Environmental Projects.
This time around, the Conglomerate which had maintained its lead in the country ‘s Hospitality brand of business had embarked on ground breaking Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR,Project, which had been dominated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, under the close watch of Bashir Jamoh, OFR, over the last three years.
. On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, the private sector, multi-billion-naira Investment Group was said to have Launched an initiative in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, where residents and investors currently live in fear because of the tough government policies being implemented by Nyesom Wike, a former governor of Rivers state and the incumbent minister who has the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who incidentally was a former governor of Lagos state.
The bold Environment Project initiative, according to an insider was aimed at ‘’sensitising schools across the country on proper waste management, recycling, fostering a greener environment and a more sustainable future for Nigeria’’. The Nigerian renowned Investment Group in the West and Central African sub-regions may have been encouraged to venture into Environmental projects because of how the country’s environments, particular schools are littered with wastes which is an eyesore to foreign visitors.
Employees from the various Transcorp Companies in Nigeria, which include Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Transcorp Hotels, Calabar, Cross river state, Aura by Transcorp Hotels, Transcorp Power Limited, Transafam Power Limited, Transcorp Energy were said to have participated in the Launching of the multi-million project that was witnessed by people rom all walks of life including Competitors and top government functionaries.
The Trancorp Group dedicated staff members who had participated in the Launching of the Environment al Project at the FCT, were said to have visited two schools each , across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT M where they currently operate in. They were said to have used the opportunity of the visit to engage he students and the educators and ‘’to raise their awareness about the importance of responsible waste disposal and the advantages of recycling’’.
The project, which a source said is aligned with Tony Elumelu, CFR, a philanthropist, Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman, United Bank For Africa, UBA plc, a Pan African Bank, ‘’ Transcorp African Capitalism’’ philosophy’’. The Transcorp African Capitalism philosophy which is embedded in the Group vision of power positive change within the environment it operates, the source further disclosed is to work through the Leaders of tomorrow, by partnering with secondary schools, to instil a sense of environmental responsibility among the young generation This is in addition to inspiring them ‘’become champions of sustainable practices’’.
Given the importance attached to the environmental project, the Group was said to have also partnered with the recycle points, described as one Nigeria’s foremost waste and social befit company and an alumnus of Tony Elumelu Foundation.
The Group was said to have donated segmented dustbins to each of the school visited in the 36 states and he FCT, all designed’’ to facilitate and streamline the recycling process’’. The specialised dustbins the Value News gathered will empower the students and staff of the schools
to segregate different types of waste effectively, encouraging a culture of recycling within the school premises. The Transcorp Conglomerate was said to have also collaborated with another strategic partner which remained a closely guided secret, who the online Magazine was told will ensure that the recycled wastes are collected and proceeds used to train out of-school children’’.
Owen Omogiafo, OON, President/ Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Transcorp Group, who could not hide his feeling at the Launching of the Environmental project, had expressed ‘’immense pride in the Group’ commitment to environmental stewardship’’. She had stated that at Transcorp, being the Africapitalists that they are, they firmly believe that’’ sustainable development is a shared responsibility’’.
Actively engaging with the secondary schools, across the country and investing in educational initiatives, the Transcorp Group CEO, noted that ‘’it will allow us ‘’to crate a lasting positive impact on the country’s environment and further inspire the younger generation to adopt eco-friendly practices’’.
Representative of the of the principals of visited in the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT, who is from Lagos state, in his closing remarks, ‘’ stated that on behalf of the Lagos state government, Permanent Secretary ministry of Education, Teachers and other staff of the schools in the state, had expressed his appreciation for the Transcorp Group environmental project initiative.
He was said to have encouraged the students ‘’to imbibe the culture of environmental coconsciousness and the habit of recycling. Many believe that the Transcorp Group ‘s dedication to sustainability extends beyond this ongoing environmental project across the country’s 36 states and the FCT, as it continues to explore innovative solutions for reducing its own environmental footprint.
An elated Elumelu, the Group Chairman, was said to have earlier in the year planted trees at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, to commemorate World Environment Day. In combining the resources and expertise of the subsidiaries in the Hospitality, Power Energy sectors of the nation’s economy, he opined that the Transcorp Group ‘’seeks to lead by example and inspire Competitors and other Organisations ‘’ to embrace environmentally responsible practices’’.
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