Hybrid solicitors holds annual lecture & luncheon in Lagos

Hybrid Solicitors and Consult recently held its annual lecture and luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel, in Lagos. The event themed, ‘Creating Competitive Advantage through Corporate Social Responsibility: Lessons from East Africa’ was highly attended by members of the legal and business communities in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event as guest lecturer, a former Director of Barclays Bank, Kenya, Carol Musyoka, spoke brilliantly on lessons to be learnt from creating a competitive advantage through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). She created examples from Safaricom and Equity Bank, two successful companies that have had extensive customer penetration and patronage as a result of their CSR models.
According her, all CSR projects should be economically empowering to its recipients. She urged organisations to ensure that across all programme areas, the investment it makes should greatly contribute to empowering communities economically and to eradicate poverty.
The Kenyan, who sits as a Director in a number of quoted blue-chip companies in the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE), including the British American Tobacco (Kenya), established in her lecture a number of fundamental elements in CSR. These include, high community touch points and choice of highly poignant areas, such as: education, health economic empowerment, environment and sustainability, leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, Agribusiness, Art and culture, etc. all of which have great impact on the quality of life.
“To win the heart of any community, there must be a clear demonstration and indication to the community that their welfare and transformation, is significant to you and your business.” Musyoka stated, speaking on CSR lessons for companies and organisations.
She noted further, “You must also appear genuine and must undertake projects in places where there is no apparent benefit or patronage. Success indeed comes at a price.”
The occasion also witnessed the public presentation of two publications of Hybrid Consult. The first was the Energy Law Review, a journal on Energy and Natural Resources Law, published by Hybrid Consults in association with the Energy and Natural Resources Practice group of Hybrid Solicitors. The Journals were reviewed by Prof. Obadina, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Lagos State University. Beautifully designed, the journal is a milestone accomplishment for the Nigerian energy sector and it is hoped would heal the dearth of literature in that field.
The second publication presented was the book ‘Local Content in Africa’s Petroleum States: Law and Policy’ written by Harrison Declan, a Senior Associate with Hybrid Solicitors, and a member of the firm’s Energy and Natural Resources Practice group. The book discusses extensively the local content laws and policies of the petroleum producing States in Africa.
Amongst those who graced the occasion were, Former Dean of Law, Lagos State University, Prof. M.T Abdulrazaq, as Chairman of the event, the current Dean of Law, Lagos State University, Prof, Tokunbo Obadina, Prof Tayo Fashoyin, Mr. Owonikoko, SAN, Segun Ajibola, SAN, Fred Agbaje, Otunba Ishola Adebanjo and several other dignitaries.