Email: c.i.ndigwe@qmul.ac.uk
Re-humanisation of csr in Nigeria: Comparison of corporate apprenticeships with the indigenous Igbo apprenticeship system
It has been 63 years since Nigeria became constitutionally independent from the British colonial powers. However, the corporate social responsibility practices of foreign multinational corporations still bear resemblance to the racial capitalism of the colonial era. The pre-colonial social responsibility practices, indigenous to the Nigerian society depended on communal engagement that transcended beyond the decades of limitations later set by colonialism and civil war and still forms the basis of indigenous practices in the current Nigerian system. The research seeks to rehumanize the CSR practice in Nigeria by creating a conceptual and practical distinction between the contextually relevant indigenous social responsibility concept and the conventionally known Eurocentric concept of social responsibility. To effectively carry out this comparison, the study utilizes an ethnographic approach that examines the indigenous social responsibility practice through the lens of the Igbo apprenticeship praxis and the conventional CSR through corporate apprenticeships by multinational corporations.
Chisom Ndigwe Okafor is a dynamic and dedicated PhD student at Queen Mary University of London, where she is delving into the fascinating realm of indigenous apprenticeships in Africa. With a profound commitment to bridging the chasm between academia and industry, Chisom has embarked on a journey to explore the intricate dynamics of traditional apprenticeship systems and their relevance in contemporary African societies.
Chisom's academic journey is distinguished by her multifaceted experiences. Prior to her doctoral studies, she spent over five years as a lecturer and researcher with Covenant University and the Lagos Business School respectively, honing her pedagogical skills and nurturing the next generation of scholars. During this time, she developed a keen understanding of the intersection between theory and practice, which serves as the bedrock of her current research endeavors.
As one of the best graduating students, she graduated summa cum laude from Covenant University during her Bachelors and Masters degree in Finance. Her portfolio currently has five peer-reviewed articles, each reflecting her unwavering dedication to rigorous inquiry and scholarly excellence. Through her research, Chisom seeks not only to contribute to the academic discourse but also to effect tangible change in the realms of education and workforce development.
As she navigates the complexities of her PhD research, Chisom remains steadfast in her pursuit of knowledge and her mission to bridge divides, empower communities, and shape a more inclusive future.