By Andrew Keili
The recent opening of the secondary school in Port Loko named after Dr. Kadi Sesay has been accompanied by positive acclaim from many quarters. Mercury International has again displayed its stellar credentials in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Sierra Leone.
Corporate Social Responsibility alludes to the encouragement of civic engagement and volunteer service in corporations. It can be expressed in a full range of business responses to the needs of society. It can be in the form of direct giving of funds to a targeted non profit organisation or a corporation may elect to be directly involved in a project. Experts point out that the reasons for this largesse range from altruism to practical self-interest. CSR assists businesses by helping them ‘to do well by doing good’. The advantages of doing good? Acting responsibly builds up trust and trust and gives companies the benefit of the doubt when dealing with customers, workers and even regulators. Secondly it gives the company an edge in attracting good employees and customers.
It is also good that a Secondary school for girls in Port Loko has been named after a daughter of the soil who has left an indelible mark in various areas of national life in Sierra Leone. The presence of the President at the launching of a project so integral to the government’s flagship Free Quality Education Project is also testament to the importance of the occasion.
This project burnishes the importance of CSR in this country. It however goes considerably beyond CSR or honouring Dr. Kadi Sesay or bolstering the government’s commitment to the education of the girl child. It is much more. Let us take a step back and examine what this singular project has wrought for us. We have several lessons to learn.
Lesson 1: It is good to honour our national heroes
The President’s description of Dr Kadi Sesay in his speech was apt- “Dr Kadi Sesay, after whom the school was named dared to be and has been unique for her exemplary achievements in academia, her commitment and proficiency in public service, her humility in leadership, her belief in what is right and doing what is right, and her perpetual inspirational presence.”
She hails from Port Loko, served as Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister of Development and Economic Planning and Chairperson for the National Commission for Democracy and Human Rights (NCDHR). She was also Running Mate to President Bio in the 2012 Elections. She is certainly and icon of women worthy of being celebrated.
Lesson 2: Collaboration between government and the private sector achieves a lot
The location and type of school was decided by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School (MBSSE) based on the pledge by Mercury to build 90 classrooms for schools. The School is the first LAB (Learn, Act, Build) school in Sierra Leone. The newly constructed modern facility having labs, disability friendly bathrooms, resource center and library, solar power facilities and other amenities was completed within 7 months of launching the project.
Mercury planned and managed the construction of the project. The Ministry was not involved in any way in construction management and financial issues. Both teams worked seamlessly to provide this quality product. Both teams conferred on plans for use of the facilities when completed. Already, the hard working and visionary Minister, David Moinina Sengeh and Mercury are having discussions on the next project, which I understand is a preschool project in Moyamba. Mercury is committed to constructing another 60 classrooms, based on the Ministry’s advice.
Lesson 3: There are many opportunities in collaborating on education
There are indeed many opportunities for collaborating with the Ministry of Education on education issues. The Ministry recognizes and courts the active role of Private schools and Missionary schools in education. Education must not be left to the government alone. We have seen how active Alumni Associations have helped improve school infrastructure, engendered payment of incentives to teachers and provided equipment and facilities for their schools. This has been reflected in the success of schools like the Grammar school, St, Edwards, my favourite girls’ school -Annie Walsh, St. Joseph’s Convent (em’ another favourite) and several others. Wow, I nearly forgot-and also Methodist Girls High school! And of course CKC! Such schools are bearing the fruits of the labour of the unsung alumni. Lest I get into trouble by not mentioning some schools, I should probably put out the disclaimer put in obituaries- “We are sorry for any omission of names. You are all considered very important!”. This year, the intake NPSE marks for entering into JSS1 for such schools are even higher than for the best private schools. Thankfully, the New Minister of Education is encouraging this support.
There are also other corporations that have been helping out in various areas. I saw a story recently about Seawright Mining company constructing a 9 classroom block in Kono.
The Ministry needs to liaise further with such organisations and think outside the box on how to encourage further cooperation for those who want to help with developing education in this country.
Lesson 4: Government and the private sector can build on this success
Mercury has done well by providing these facilities. Government will pay the teachers and provide the normal facilities given to schools. It will ensure the school runs sustainably. Already the President alluded to helping develop it into a Boarding school. There are certainly other improvements that can be made over time to further improve upon what Mercury has done. Other helpers should arise!
Lesson 5: More companies should be encouraged to do CSR
CSR must and should be a commitment of all businesses be it a one-man show, a small scale business, a family business or a big corporation. It behooves companies especially at this time in the history of our country when the needs are immense to help their communities. The areas of help are countless.
Lesson 6: Mercury is a leader in the CSR arena
What Mercury has done in the CRS arena since its formation in 2006 is unfathomable. Mercury International has been synonymous with responsible corporate social responsibility that has delivered on its developmental commitments. Their support to local CRS pursuits extends to support of sporting activities-from the football, cricket and volleyball playing fields to the wrestling mats, medical assistance for external treatment of patients, scholarships to institutions, support for the Arts including the Ballanta Academy of Music, support for the Milton Margai School for the Blind and the National School for the Deaf and to the home for the Aged and much more.
It is also worth noting the commitment of its Managing Director, Martin Michael in a personal capacity to many ventures including this one. He has promised to pay the Le10, 000,000 a month from his salary at Mercury and paid directly to the account of the school in a one-year commitment to assist the school in its formative year. Thank you Martin!
CSR is good. Although government must not use this as an excuse to renege on what it should legitimately provide, corporations’ efforts must be complimentary. The cynic may argue that corporations are not here to build a fairer society and that that is the job of government. They are way off the mark. The tasks ahead are many and the yoke is heavy but the resources are limited. Time for corporations to put in their penny’s worth!
So many people have come out of this single episode smelling rosy. The government through the President and Vice President have shown their immense support and gratitude for the building of this school. The Ministry has shown that it can work seamlessly with the private sector to achieve its objectives. An icon of women has been immortalized. Mercury has shown the way-a company can do well be doing good. Let us hope that this spurs other companies into action, however big or small. CSR is an idea whose time has come.
Ponder my thoughts
