ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO NIGERIA IN OYO STATE

ABSTRACT

Based on observed grudges and complaints of alienation of host communities in company’s CSR initiatives, the research work was conducted on “Assessment of Community Participation in Corporate Social Responsibility of British American Tobacco Nigeria in Oyo State” to evaluate the level of corporate community involvement in CSR initiatives. In conducting the research, mixed research method was used to elicit quantitative and qualitative data through survey, focus group, in-depth interview and document analysis methods. The population of the study was 5,580,894 from which the sample size of 405 was drawn from five Local Government Areas aided by Australian Calculator. The study found out that British American Tobacco Nigeria did not adequately involve the host communities in the conceptualizing, designing and implementing of its CSR programmes in the state. This findings indicates that, although CSR projects are being implemented by BATN, it appears that corporate community engagement in CSR is low and poor, such that, a linear inverse relationship exist between BATN and host communities. Consequently, the study found that the continuous dissatisfaction of the host community with the CSR programmes implemented by BATN will not cease until mutual communication is established between the concerned parties. Finally, until there is high level of community participation in Corporate social responsibility, driven by two-way communication and mutual understanding, BATN’s social effort will continue to be rated poorly. Based on the study findings, the study recommended the adoption of stakeholders’ theory tenets which advocated for the establishment of corporate community engagement platforms where members of the community can meet, interact directly and deliberate on programmes and social development initiatives that concerns them.