Corporate Social Responsibility: Dimension Of Small and Medium Enterprise Sustainability in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) balances and strengthens the relationship between people, environment and business organisations in the spatial system. Business establishments often have impacts on the environment; this condition however must be sustainably handled for saner and healthy living environment. Questionnaire administration technique was conducted on 215 respondents across the study area. Information were drawn based on convenience and purposive sampling methods in selecting study population: customer, people, business owners and stakeholders involved in the business orientation. Descriptive method of data analysis was adopted to present the opinions of the respondents on CSR in the study area. The study established that majority of the respondents were males who were well educated. There were characterised by young adults and youths. It was revealed the monthly income of the respondents were low. The head offices of the business organisations were majorly located in Ife, Osogbo and Lagos. These business organisations were identified as restaurants, grocery stores, hairdressing salon, car wash and supermarkets, among others. Based on findings, it was revealed that humanitarian activities and cash donations to schools, old people’s home, orphanage homes and hospitals; these represent the major services rendered by the business organisations in the study area. It was equally observed that many small and medium sized businesses have no defined CSR policy framework for their business; which has frustrated the level of importance attached with CSR intents in the study area. It was recommended that public awareness is needed both on the business owners and the people towsrds understanding the essence of CSR in community development.