Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability: Evidence from Dangote Cement Company, Gboko

Abstract

Dangote Cement Company Plc, Gboko had claimed to have invested substantially in CSR, however, the lived reality within its host community and its environs presents a starkly contradictory picture as the community has continued to experience severe environmental pollution, including the overflow of harmful wastewater into local streams pervasive dust emissions from the factory, which directly lead to adverse health impacts such as prevalent skin problems and destruction of agricultural crops and economic trees. It is against this backdrop that this study was carried out to examine the effect of Dangote Cement Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility on Environmental Sustainability in Gboko, Benue State. The study adopted the survey research design and the convenient and purposive sampling techniques were used in selecting a sample of 400 respondents from Gboko LGA who participated in the study. The study used observation, interview and questionnaire methods to collect data which was analyzed using regression and triangulation methods. The study established that Environmental Protection Initiatives and Community Environmental Development Programmes have statistically significant positive effects on environmental sustainability in Mbayion Community, Gboko, Benue State. The study concluded that strengthening environmental management strategies like environmental protection initiatives and community environmental development programmes would significantly improve environmental sustainability in Mbayion Community. The study therefore recommends that the management of Dangote Cement Company Plc, Gboko should embark on Environmental Protection Initiatives to protect its host community from pollution and environmental degradation, and constantly engage in Community Environmental Development Programmes to address the menace of environmental pollution in the host community