Corporate social responsibility in Nigeria: western mimicry or indigenous influences?

Drawing empirical evidence from indigenous firms, this study explores the meaning and practice of CSR in Nigeria. It was found that indigenous firms perceive and practise CSR as corporate philanthropy aimed at addressing socioeconomic development challenges in Nigeria. This finding suggests that CSR is a localised and socially embedded construct, as the waves’, ‘issues’ and ‘modes’ of CSR practices identified among indigenous firms in Nigeria reflect the firms’ responses to their socioeconomic context. It is anticipated that this paper will add to the body of knowledge on CSR, especially as it relates to Africa, which has a relative dearth of literature on CSR, and provide some insights to multinational firms operating in Nigeria.