Corporate social responsibility and grassroots development: evidence of recreational projects by total oil company in rivers state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was necessitated by the lingering conflict arising from the poor socio-economic conditions of the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It sought to examine the impact of recreational projects executed by Total Oil Company on the lives of grassroots populations. The study adopted a survey research design. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied at different stages to select Total Exploration and Production Nigeria and 362 respondents drawn from the Egi Kingdom in Ogba Ndoni Egbema Local Government Area of Rivers State. Questionnaire and interview methods were utilized for data collection. The respondents comprised the Public Relations Officers of Total Oil Company, representatives of women and youth groups, and elders from the communities who were selected systematically. The study anchored upon Systems Theory. The study adopted Regression Analysis, Analysis of Variance, and Simple Percentage for data analysis. The findings revealed that Total Nigeria has considerably lived up to its Corporate Social Responsibility in the majority of its host communities, but not much has been done by the company in the provision of recreational facilities. Based on these findings, the study recommended that there should be greater involvement of the rural people in the identification and prioritization of their felt needs, as well as the execution of projects meant for their well-being, to ensure sustainability