By Emeke Nwaoboli
Samuel
Adegboyega University (SAU),
Ogwa Edo State was filled with ecstasy on
Friday September 24, 2021 sequel to the 3rd inaugural lecture of SAU delivered by
Professor Ezekiel Shegun Asemah, a professor of Public Relations and
Advertising, Dean SAU and visiting professor at the University of Benin, Benin
City, Edo State.
The lecture titled
“Corporate Social Responsibility in the Twenty First Century: Refocusing on
Sustainable Development through Stakeholders’ Approach” has been described by
some scholars as contemporary and germane for sustainable development.
Prof. Asemah summed that
Corporate Social Responsibility in its simplest definition is about “doing
good”. In the public lecture held at the multi-purpose hall of SAU and chaired
by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Idowu, Prof. Asemah gave
insights on the different Social Responsibility school of thoughts; explained
the legitimacy theory as a ground for corporations to operate; discussed the
challenges of corporations in sustainable development of developing countries
and as well made recommendations on ways to solving the challenges.
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| Prof. Asemah delivering his lecture |
He emphasized that the areas corporations must be socially responsible in the 21st century to engender sustainable development include wellness of employees, environmental integrity, philanthropic responsibilities, effective waste management, education, reduction of poverty, among others.
TOPFLYERS MAGAZINE INTERNATIONAL, Prof. Asemah called on the Nigerian
government at all levels to formulate policies mandating corporations to be
socially responsible. He added that “if the government does not come up with
such policies, most corporations may not be socially responsible”.
At the end of his
lecture, Prof. Asemah recounted his many failures at the dawn of his life,
stating that the first time he wrote Senior School Certificate Examination
(SSCE), he failed seven courses (had 7Fs) but never gave up even when he also
had some life threatening health challenges. He further attributed
his success to God Almighty, his wife and many others adding that he would
forever remain grateful to SAU and everyone who has contributed to his rise to
limelight.
Mrs.
Asemah Recounts the Sacrifices to Eminence
Speaking to TOPFLYERS
MAGAZINE INTERNATIONAL, Deaconess Mary Asemah, wife of Prof. Asemah registered
her contentment with the delivery of the lecture adding that from the very
first time she met Asemah, she knew he would be a great man.
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| Prof. Asemah and wife |
In her words: “I knew my
husband was going to be a great man from the very first time I met him. He
started as an extra-moral teacher. He was hard working and can read for two
weeks without any break. The same thing applies to writing. He has flare for
writing and was still a student when he started writing. You cannot stop him
from reading too. If he wants to read, he pleads with me to give him some time
and because I understand him, I always co-operate with him”.
Mrs. Asemah avowed that
she, based on her conviction of the greatness of Prof. Asemah agreed to marry
him while he was in 300level and she was already a graduate. She added that
many of her friends tried to dissuade her from marrying Prof. Asemah because he
was an undergraduate but that she refused to listen to them.
“We got married while he
was in 300Level and I was already a graduate. Many of my friends advised me not
to marry him because he was an undergraduate and I was a graduate. However, I
did not listen to them. After he graduated, he bought a master’s degree form
for me but I told him to go for his masters first before I go for mine. He
wanted me to go for my master’s degree before him but I refused. We had our
second child before he graduated. Immediately after his master’s degree, he
picked a P.hD form from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He told me that
I should not worry that he would ensure he does not exceed 3 years in obtaining
his P.hD certificate and after two years and six months, he graduated and
called me that he had fulfilled his promise. In fact, it is a long story and to
God be the glory for shaming those who thought he would never make it in life”,
she recounted.
Commendations
of the Inaugural Lecture
Speaking on the lessons from,
and success of the public lecture, some scholars lauded the delivery of the
lecture noting that Prof. Asemah is not just a professor in words but in deeds.
According to Dr. (Mrs.) Comfort Ene Obaje, a lecturer in the department of Mass
Communication, University of Benin, the inaugural lecture is first of its kind
in Edo State.
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| Prof. Asemah with SAU VC, Principal Officers, HOD’S, other professors. |
Dr. (Mrs.) Obaje noted
that “this is the first inaugural lecture in Edo State delivered by a Professor
in Mass Communication”.
She added that Prof.
Asemah’s lecture is very vital to the business environment in the contemporary
society as it brings to the consciousness of the public and corporate
institutions the essence and profitability of Corporate Social Responsibility.
She concluded that the lecture was highly required at the moment “especially
for the fact that the economy is not favorable to so many people” and as such
an awareness programme was requisite for corporations to be active again in
engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility for sustainable development.
On his part, Dr. Ekwe Okwudiri, a lecturer in the department of
Mass Communication, Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo State commended the
lecture affirming that Prof. Asemah was prompt and articulate in the delivery
of the lecture.
Prof. Asemah has over 200
academic publications to his credit and has been cited over 1000 times.
He had his Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Jos; his
Master’s degree at Benue State University, Makurdi; while his Doctor of
Philosophy was obtained from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
