CSR: NBC to Impact 10,000 Youths through Empowerment

In line with its commitment to youth empowerment, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) has launched ‘Youth Empowered’, a training workshop programm to support, empower and provide youths with basic life and business skills for their personal development and self-sustenance. The launch of the initiative took place in Lagos recently with stakeholders from government and non-governmental organisations in attendance. Speaking at the Youth Empowered launch, NBC Managing Director, George Polymenakos said: “The youth remain a major focal stakeholder group in our community intervention programs and sustainability initiatives. Over the y years, NBC has built and maintained strong g community trust into our corporate strategy, which has driven our business to invest time, expertise and resources in locally relevant initiatives to facilitate socio-economic developmentp of our communities, especiallyy amongstg the y youth. The company had earlier stated through a press statement issued on the initiative that it was designed to take participants through workshops in Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Kano, to help p them discover themselves, understand their strengthsg and developmental opportunities, as well as provide them a platform for meaningful interaction with business leaders and mentors. Participants would also pg be taken through a three-daygy business skill workshop p designed to p provide them with essential skillsgsuch business as projectpj and time management, business planning, negotiation, financial literacy,y communication and sales skills that would helpp them thrive in the business environment. The trainings would take place physically, with on-line versions available and is expected to reach a total yp of 10,000 youths. The company’sy Legal,g Public Affairs and Communications Director, Sade Morgan, said the project was committed to empowering youths in communities, liberating their fortunes and supporting one of the government’s sustainability development goals; ‘eradicating extreme poverty and hunger’. The Founder of Rise Net work, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, while giving her speech challenged g the youths to take their yyy future seriously by investing g in ventures that would advance the cause of their development and success in the workplace and life in general. She noted that the era of youth relying on government support to cater for their needs was no longer feasible in this age and time given the government attitude to solving unemployment.