Kaduna Electric: Charting a new course in CSR

Beyond the daunting task of meeting its customers’ daily electricity need, Kaduna Electric has taken the lead in redefining corporate social responsibility in the Nigerian Electricity supply Industry through investment in education and donation of relief materials to internally displaced people (IDPs).

Perhaps, in the about six decades of electricity business in Nigeria, for the first time, a service provider has gone beyond its core mandate to identify with, and support the developmental needs of its immediate constituency. After barely two years of the existence of the Company as a private organization, Kaduna Electric has set the tone for responsible corporate behavior and the need for corporate organisations to key into the developmental needs of our society.

Friday 9th June 2017 marked a milestone in corporate governance, especially in the electricity sub-sector. In an apparent response to calls by government at various levels and well-meaning individuals, the Management of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company donated 200 units of two-seater classroom furniture to Sardauna Memorial College, Kaduna.

Presenting the furniture to the Principal in the presence of a crowd comprising the old boys association, officials of the State ministry of education, teachers and students of the college, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Kaduna Electric, Engineer Garba Haruna described the gesture as “the fulfilment of the Company’s corporate social responsibility to it franchise area”.

According to him, “Kaduna electric is a responsible corporate citizen of kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states and shall always identify with, and support the yearnings and aspirations of the government and people of the four states”.

He called on the school authority to ensure that the furniture are put to proper use for the benefit of the present crop of students and even the future generation.

The College community, especially the students were overwhelmed with joy and poured encomiums on the Board and Management of Kaduna Electric. The Principal, Malam Baba Sidi Muhammad Sunusi who led both the academic and nonacademic staff of the institution to the occasion, expressed the appreciation of the College and promised to ensure that the furniture are properly maintain for long lasting benefits to the students.

Also, the President of the Sardauna Memorial College Old Boys Association, SAMOBA who was represented by the Vice President, Mr. Joshau Gambo commended the Management of Kaduna Electric for the kind gesture, stressing that it shall go a long way in making the teaching and learning environment more conducive.

He called on other wellmeaning individuals and corporate bodies to emulate what he called “patriotic disposition” of the electricity distribution company.

The Kaduna Zonal Director of the state ministry of education also conveyed the State’s government appreciation Kaduna Electric and urged it to continue to provide support to noble projects like this.

As if the above gesture is not enough, in another exceptional display of kindheartedness and compassion to the less privilege, the staff of the Company made another giant stride by donating food, clothing and other essential supplies to internally displaced people, IDPs residing in Rafin Guza, a suburb of Kaduna on 22ndJune,2017.

The Chief Corporate Services Officer of the Company, Mr Uday Mishra who led the team expressed deep sympathy over the plight of the IDPs who are largely victims of Boko Haram insurgency and assured them that the staff of Kaduna Electric share in their pains and tribulation.

Indeed, the gesture could not have been made at a better time, as it came at the tail end of the just concluded Ramadan fast and at the threshold of the eid-el fitr celebration.

According to Mr. Mishra, “As a responsible corporate citizen, the Company shall always identify with and support such public spirited venture from the workers” and extended the best wishes of the staff of Kaduna Electric to the IDPs.

He also called on the IDPs to be good ambassadors of the Company in particular and the society in general by being of good conduct and should always see to it that power supply installations in their neighbourhood are safeguarded against vandalism for the benefit of all.

Most of the beneficiaries could not hold themselves up as they openly betrayed their emotions by shedding tears publicly. A community leader who stood in for the ward head of Rafin Guza, Mallam Musa thanked the Management and staff of Kaduna Electric for the kind gesture which he described as timely and very much needed. He prayed to Almighty God to reward the staff of the electricity company and all those that contributed to the success of the exercise.

In all the occasions, officials of the electricity company took time off to appeal to electricity users in the Company’ franchise area to be alive to their responsibilities, stating that the Company must be supported to grow. Indeed, the Company and it host communities are in a mutual beneficial relationship.

Idris is Team Lead, Media & Community Relations, Kaduna Electric.