LAGOS -. By Victoria Hanson In a bid to enhance effective growth in the society, analysts have called on business organizations to build a sustainable and profitable business environment.
Business analysts made the call on Tuesday at the Unilever Nigeria PLC interactive session organised in collaboration with Lagos Business School (Pan Atlantic University).
They urged business organizations to create strong business advocacy to ensure that their businesses last for life a time, adding that they should strive to use their organizations in solving societal problems.
The Global CEO Unilever PLC Paul Polman while speaking on the theme “Building Sustainable And profitable Businesses In volatile Times… Inspiring The Next Generation Of Leaders”, highlighted some of the challenges which could affect various business organizations and the society in general.
According to him, they include lack of global governance, climate change, concentration of wealth in few hands, power as well as technology.
He noted that sustainability is about people, partnership, prosperity, pet for the common goal, peace and plan, noting that without an enabling business environment in any country, there is a tendency for such country to experience poverty.
He wondered, “why would the society accept business which is not profitable to the society?
“Any business that doesn’t contribute to the growth of the society definitely reduces its growth while any business without responsibility must gradually be rejected ”
In order for business to grow effectively, Polman maintained that partnership , transparency and productive leadership must be involved .
He outlined the factors that can enhance sustainability in various organizations to be good brand of products or nutritional items, moving beyond company’s scale, thinking of how to get out of deforestation and bringing people and other materials together. Others are developing partners and environment and leveling on value change.
The Chairman, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc Mr Mutiu Sunmonu said that business operators must place their level of thinking in reforming the society as they can’t grow in a failef society and also acquire good business intellects.
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinkumi Ambode who was represented by the commissioner for Energy, Mr Wale Oluwo said that the governor is at the forefront of building a sustainable business environment in the State.
Some of the government projects he listed for business growth are in ministry of wealth creation ,poverty Alleviation among other empowerment programmes.
He disclosed that the state had just discovered crude oil, saying efforts would be made to enhance effective usage of gas by the people.
He therefore commended the Unilever Nigeria Plc and Lagos Business school for their efforts and visions to build a sustainable society.
Also speaking, Mrs Mosun Belo Olusoga who is the chairperson Access Bank Plc said that building a sustainable business environment is ongoing in access Bank .
Oscar Onyema Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange charged all the organizations to key into the vision of sustainability as it is much important to the growth of business and society.
An elated Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh. said the purpose of the event was to proffer ways of creating an enabling business environment thereby using the organization to impact on the lives of the citizens and to find lasting solutions to business challenges in order to build strong business leaders for Nigeria.
Others who spoke at the event were Dr. Enase Okonedo, Dr.Chris Ogbechi and Dr Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, all of Lagos Business school.
