Innovative Collaboration: Authors Dr. Adamolekun, Prof. Olatunji Launches Book on Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Development

A Professor of Public Relations, and Advertising at the Faculty of Communications, and Media Studies, Lagos State University, Rotimi Olatunji, alongside, an Associate Professor of Mass Communication, Elizade University, Dr. Wole Adamolekun, launches a book titled “Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Development.

L-R: Lead Partner CMC Connect LLP, Chief. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; Wife of a Co-author, Mrs. Bisi Adamolekun; Co-author of the book, Dr. Wole Adamolekun; Communications and Sustainability Manager International Breweries, Taye Tunkarimu; Co-author, Dr. Rotimi Olatunji; Council Member Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Mr Lanre Bajulaiye and Founder SERAS Awards/TruCSR, Dr. Ken Egbas during the book launch Title; Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development, authored by Dr. Wole Adamolekun and Dr. Rotimi Olatunji at the Metropolitan Club Victoria Island Lagos, on Wednesday 29th November, 2023.

Two scholarly authors, Dr. Wole Adamolekun and Prof. Rotimi Olatunji has collaboratively launched a transformational book, titled "Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development". The book was formally launched at the Metropolitan Club Lagos, on Wednesday, November 29, 2023,

The event, characterized by insightful discussions with the authors, provided attendees with a unique opportunity to delve into the inspiration behind their collaboration and the key themes explored in the masterpiece.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Wole Adamolekun addressed the complex economic, social, and environmental expectations of stakeholders in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development. He emphasized the inadequacy of governments' efforts to meet basic needs, underscoring the vital role of businesses in complementing these efforts through sustained CSR projects.

"Social responsibility can achieve greater impact through collaboration and partnerships. We are offering our expertise as a bridge for all stakeholders committed to building a better and more inclusive society. This exercise will also deepen research and scholarship that respond to the new global realities," he said.

He added that “We are saying that it is not just corporations, individuals that can be involved in social responsibility practices but for the organizations they need to be strategic. When we talk of sustainable, we are talk of involvement in community development that people can have ownership of project in such a way that there will be continuity. The United Nations that came up with Sustainable Development Goals talk of development in the present that doesn’t jeopardize the future generations.”

Also speaking during the launch, co-author Prof. Rotimi Olatunji shared his perspective on the aim of the book launch, calling for a collective commitment to social responsibility for the betterment of the economy. He challenged the notion that substantial financial resources are a prerequisite for social responsibility, asserting that organizations can integrate it into their expenditures, reducing tax burdens.

He urged companies to be socially responsible in all areas from employee relations to community relations and others, stating that today people want to work with socially responsible organizations. Added that the purpose of the book is enable people understand that social responsibility is everybody’s business from individuals to businesses; small or big.

“If you are talking of social responsibility, it can not be the business of those who have big money and big budget alone, it has to be the business of everybody,” he said.

"In the pages of 'Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development,' we strive to ignite a collective spark for positive change—a call to action for every reader to play a role in shaping a sustainable future,” he said.

Lanre Bajulaiye, a Council Member of NIPR, who represents the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku said the emphasize today is on CSR but people and community have forgotten the concept of ‘Traditional Social Responsibility’, a system where every child belongs to everybody in the community and people treat each other as one family and supports each other.

“Our failures on various areas are beginning to face us, social responsibility is not just doling out billions, you can build big structures or provide facilities in a community but if the environment you have brought those things is not affected and they are not taking ownership, your billions will have gone down the drain. You must first of all affect the environment positively for them to take ownership and to believe this is for us and from one of us. That gives you the security if you are within that environment even you are outside the environment. I think we will not be talking about insecurity if we are socially responsible in this country, ” he stated.

Dr. Wole Adamolekun and Prof. Rotimi Olatunjia, who are both recognized sustainable development specialists, have given a wealth of expertise and a fresh perspective to the subject, making their collaboration a must-read for everyone interested in the impact of social responsibility and sustainable development.

L-R: Co-author of the book, Professor Rotimi Olatunji; Representative of the Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Prof Dokun Omojola; Co-author of the book, Professor Wole Adamolekun and Former Executive Vice-President, Opay Mr Olu Akanmu during the book launch Title; Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development, authored by Dr. Wole Adamolekun and Dr. Rotimi Olatunji at the Metropolitan Club Victoria Island Lagos, on Wednesday 29th November, 2023.

Distinguished personalities from all sectors, including Mr. Lanre Bajulaiye, a council member of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, the lead partner at CMC Connect LLP and the former president of the Africa Public Relations Association (APRA), Mrs. Thelma Okoh, another NIPR council member, and other distinguished guests graced the occasion.

The event also had in attendance Ken Egbas, the founder of the SERAs awards/TruCSR, and Mr. Olukayode Ogunleye, a representative from Shell plc. These renowned individuals contributed significantly to the event by sharing their ideas and insights from their various disciplines and industries.

The most unique attribute of this book is the background of the authors which is a collage of practical and academic experiences. Good organizations often make great organizations.

Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development is not your usual prescriptive offering by Ivory Tower experts but a detailed guide to what and how to do responsible and sustainable business in the 21st-century world where the actions and intentions of corporate organizations are subjected to critical interrogation and scrutiny.

Dr. Adamolekun and Dr. Olatunji wrote like evangelists on a mission to convert the uninitiated and broaden the horizon of practitioners already in the business of Corporate Social Responsibility or the now more fashionable (and certainly more transformative) Sustainability, which is more empirical on account of being tied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The extensive use of statistics makes this book highly recommended for students, teachers, and practitioners who are interested in the arts and science of CSR and Sustainability.

November 30, 2023