70th Anniversary: NBC empowers over 250 women in Imo
As the Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) marks her 70 years anniversary of her operation in Nigeria, has in partnership with Karis and Eleos Foundation empowered about 250 women in Imo State in line with her Community Social Responsibility roles.
Speaking during the distribution of the start-up kits to the women who scaled through the examination, the Program Manager, Karis and Eleos Foundation, Chikezie Ilechukwu noted that the program was sponsored by NBC, adding that this was to mark her 70 years anniversary of the operation of NBC in Nigeria. He said NBC is empowering over 1000 women across the eight states of Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Imo, Abuja, Kano, Borno and Rivers.
He said in Imo State, women from Irette community of Owerri West where the NBC plant is located were selected for the empowerment training, stressing that about 250 women were trained on how to make paints, beads, household cleaning products, among others. He said the women were also trained on soft skills business module where they can use the social media to market their products, packaging, and financial skills, hinting that NBC is returning to the community the hospitality and serene business environment provided by the community, adding that NBC is happy with the Irette community for the love and acceptance enjoyed in the area. He posited that out of the 250 trained, 25 women were given startup kits as a way of helping them start. He said the women trained will in turn train other women as a sustainable plan.
In his contribution, the NBC plant manager, Owerri, Collins Dike noted that what the NBC is trying to do is to accelerate the talents of the women, especially that there’s job scarce in the country, but one can employ him/herself. ‘We believe that there are hidden talents within the women that need to be tapped and harnessed for growth of community and sustainability. I am happy to see soap, beads and paint manufacturers. We feel that women and girls should be supported to contribute to the family needs.
In his remarks, the implementation partner in Imo State, the Executive Director of Cara Development Foundation, Nnennaya Enyinna Eneremadu posited that she was happy that the empowerment has come to the women, while urging the women to make judicious use of the training given to them. She hinted that in all, partnership is key to development of a people, because according to her, no one can do it alone. She commended the NBC and Karis and Eleos Foundation for their efforts, especially that they assured that they will keep checking on the empowered women to ensure that they make proper use of the hands-on experience learnt.
One of the beneficiaries, who’s a widow, Blessing Cyprian speaking in tears of joy stated that NBC has pulled her out of poverty by the empowerment, adding that she don’t know what she would have done without the start-up kits. She reeled out blessings upon the organizers and prayed that the empowerment continues.
