Signing Of Convention On Business Integrity (Cbi) By Mtnn 2006
Being Speech By Amina Oyagbola, Corporate Services Executive, Mtn Nigeria Communications Limited (Mtnn) At The Signing Of Convention On Business Integrity (Cbi) By Mtnn On Thursday 2 November 2006.
Good morning distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
Let me join our Chairman, Dr Pascal Dozie in welcoming you all to this very special occasion.
Since its inception five years ago, MTN Nigeria has taken its corporate responsibility to society very seriously. This has informed our deployment of a robust corporate social responsibility strategy, of which corporate governance is a key component. For us, the importance of making a difference in the lives of people and the environment in which we operate, is driven by our belief that great organisations continue to thrive simply because they have a reason for being – a purpose which is rooted in doing unique things and always adding value in society.
Today, we have made public our convictions based on our philosophy that good business ethics and corporate governance are key to the development of a vibrant private sector. We hope that we along with other well-meaning organisations will be catalysts of change in our environment.
We are pleased that we already have various codes and policies in place, which regulate the conduct of our business within a clear governance framework. They are, among others:
- Corporate Business Principles
- Code of Ethics
- Whistle Blowing Policy
- Document Retention Policy
- Guidelines in the Conduct of Governmental Affairs
In addition, MTN Nigeria was one of the first few companies to become a member of the United Nations Global Compact Network (GCN) in March 2006. The GCN is an international initiative seeking to advance responsible corporate citizenship as a prerequisite for adequately tackling the challenges of globalisation by promoting the 10 principles.
We are committed to continuously “moving you ahead” by improving our standards of corporate conduct and entrenching ethical practices in every sphere of our business. It is important to state here that this commitment is made even in the face of the diverse challenges that may be posed by our environment. In the short term, the consequences of maintaining our principles may be delays and increased cost of operations. However, in the long run, the advantages of a clear and sustainable governance framework are clear and serve the true spirit of public/ private partnership because:
- Our internal stakeholders imbibe the company’s zero-tolerance for sharp practices and the work place becomes a level playing field in which staff can perform at optimal levels.
- Our external stakeholders imbibe the ethical standards upheld in MTN and this will result in sustainable partnerships for socio-economic development based on respect, consistency and brand equity.
Finally, I’d like to close my remarks by leaving us with a joint communiqué made by the CEO Task Force on Global Corporate Citizenship, at the World Economic Forum:
“The greatest contribution we can make to development is to do business in a manner that obeys the law, produces safe and cost effective products and services, creates jobs and wealth, supports training and technology cooperation and reflects international standards and values in areas such as the environment, ethics, labour and human rights. To make every effort to enhance the positive multipliers of our activities and to minimise any negative impacts on people and the environment, everywhere we invest and operate. A key element of this is recognising that the frameworks we adopt for being a responsible business must move beyond philanthropy and be integrated into core business strategy and practice”
I am indeed proud to be part of MTN, an organization that is striving to achieve all of these laudable goals, and to be associated with the CBI. I wish to commend the CBI for championing this laudable initiative in Nigeria.
Thank you and God Bless you all