NBC Donates Kits to School Pupils

As part of its corporate social responsibility (CRS) activities, Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), has donated ‘Back to School kits’ to pupils of Agidingbi Primary School, Ikeja Lagos State.

Items given to each of the students include; school bags, exercise books, water bottles, pencils and crayons.

According to the company, over 16,000 pupils have benefited from the initiative which commenced in 2011.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony held within the school premises, Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, George Polymenakos stated that the 2016 programme also taking place in other regions of the country “will reach over 3,000 pupils.”

George, represented by the company’s Legal and Public Affairs Director, Folashade Morgan, said the initiative is one of the focal areas of NBC’s Corporate Social Responsibility framework. He added that the initiative is in line with the company’s believe that education of the Nigerian child should be a collective responsibility.

His words: “The future would be shaped by today’s young people. And the quality of the leaders of a country is premise on the quality of education they receive.

“NBC’s Back to School initiative is driven by the need to positively impact children from a disadvantaged background, to support their education and intellectual development. Our company believes this will also relieve parents and guardians of some financial burdens.

“For us, education of the Nigerian child is an enormous responsibility that cannot be left alone for government, parents and guardians.”

The managing director thereafter implored the teachers to see their work as special and crucial to the development of the country, stating that the company will continue to support skill enhancement programmes for teachers. He also enjoined the pupils to strive for academic excellence at all times.

Reacting to NBC’s gesture, Chairman Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Doctor Ganiyu Oluremi Shopeyin, stated that NBC has been contributing to education and development in general, this he said is a good response to the call by the government for cooperation from individual and corporate organisations.

He called on other organisations to emulate the gesture of NBC, as their gesture will not go unnoticed.