by Akintomiwa Agbaje

In a bid to sustainably promote unity through collaborative action, accountability and transparency within the extractive industries, CSR-in-Action in partnership with Business Day Newspapers, is pleased to announce dates for its annual seminar – Sustainability in the Extractive Industries™. This seminar with the sub-theme – Policy, Affirmative Action and Sustained Growth is scheduled to hold on the 7^th of November, 2013 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Just like last year, the seminar this year will gather key stakeholders to discuss and assimilate best practice and challenges in these industries with a view to finding solutions. The sub-theme for this year is aimed at addressing current challenges concerning implementation of policies to promote long term unity and development, by stimulating a meaningful exchange of ideas and best practices among key stakeholder groups and industry experts with a view to identifying effective strategies for improved development within the industries and local communities.

It is expected this year’s seminar will provide a fresh outlook in terms of innovation and stimulating debates; through a series of social media platforms and collectively involved interactions including the youth, media, regulators and experienced veterans within the extractive industries, the event is expected to address the inter-link between appropriate policy, collective commitment and sustainable growth.

This objective of the seminar has also been echoed in subsequent press interviews by Bekeme Masade, Executive Director, CSR-in-Action “…to achieve sustainable growth for Nigeria, all stakeholders have a critical role to play and need to be distanced from the ‘individuality’ factor….”. Additionally, reiterating on numerous occasions, she asserts “… there are advocacy groups who try to influence policies within the sector because policy is key… as a people and most especially as a government; we need to be guided properly so as to get the right sort of legislation implemented…”

The seminar this year will attract people within the areas of oil and gas, mining and related professions, as it did last year, to help provide a genuine mapping approach in order to measure sustainability within these sectors. The event is expected to address the inter-link between appropriate policy, collective commitment and sustainable growth.

Expected guests will include, H.E Diezani Alison Madueke, Minister of Petroleum, Nigeria; H.E Musa Mohammed Sada, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria; Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Former Vice President of the World Bank, Africa Region; Caroline Kende-Robb, Executive Director, Africa Progress Panel; George Abiodun Osahon, Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); Frank Nweke Jr, Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and other notable personalities.

– For further information, sponsorship, partnership, programme and registrations, please visit: www.csr-in-action.org or contact the Programmes Manager, Mr Chiweta Uraih on [email protected] or 01-8401828.

– To place an advertorial, please email [email protected]