Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria: western mimicry ...

18ForacasestudyofNnewiindustrialclusterinEasternNigeriaseeBrautigam(1997). 17http://www.zenithbank.com/philanthropy_mn.cfm#ObjectivesPage24of44Zenith Bank, we see giving back to society as a seriousand passionate cause [emphasis, original]17.The overwhelming conception of CSR as philanthropy may not beunconnected to traditional socio-cultural heritage of the indigenousfirms. For different regions of Nigeria, the traditional, family or kinshippattern of production characteristic of agrarian mode of livelihood –the household economy – has been the governing order of businessorganization which is still reflected in the structure of most indigenousfirms (see Nafziger, 1969, 1977; Silverstein, 1983, 1984). For CSRtherefore, the kinship-network-based system of business organizationwould imply that businesses first serve the interest of their networkmembers as their primary constituency. Philanthropy, goodness tosociety, charity are therefore conceived within the moral economy ofkin-based solidarity and reciprocity (Adi, 2006). A traditional andinformal sector example of this would be the case of auto spare-partsbusiness cluster found in Nnewi, Eastern Nigeria that play crucial rolesin their local community development including, provision of city-widesecurity. 18