PZ Cussons Foundation marks 10 years of impact in Nigeria

Personal care, homes, food and electrical conglomerate, PZ Cussons, has reiterated that its commitment to the wellbeing of Nigerians, and impacting lives in the country by giving back to the society would not change, as it marked the 10th year anniversary of its foundation.

The event, which held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, witnessed the presence of dignitaries from all walks of life and representatives of states and communities from the six geopolitical zones the foundation has impacted since its inception in 2007.

Presenting the score card of the Foundation, the Foundation Chairman, Prof. Emmanuel C. Edozien, said: “in 2007, PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC came up with the idea to set up a more structured way of formulating and executing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme by registering a foundation. That was a departure from previous way of doing similar kind acts on ad-hoc basis.

To that effect, a board of trustees, comprising 15 persons from diverse professional, ethnic and religious background with four areas of focus; Education, Health, Potable water and Infrastructure, was appointed and saddled with the task of translating that dream into reality under my chairmanship.

“These choices were informed by the desire to directly and positively impact lives without any profit motive of consideration by giving back to the society, translating their commercial mission of ‘Making Life Better’ to making social investment better.”
Giving a breakdown of some of the projects done so far in the education sector, Edozien said: “We constructed and furnished block of three classrooms. And provided 70 fully furnished classes. We decongested classrooms and created conducive learning environment by providing table and chairs; increased student in-takes in some schools by creating new spaces for additional 2,400 students.
Similarly, he said infrastructure including rehabilitation of hostel, Assembly Hall, and administrative blocks and ITC training were done for the Government College Keffi, Nasarawa State, Queen School Ilorin, Kwara and Ibadan, and College of Education, Gumel, Jigawa State, respectively.

He added, “As a Foundation that knows the importance of science in secondary school, we encouraged the study of chemistry in secondary schools; made laboratory easily accessible to schools in rural areas. And improved computers literacy and access to teachers and students.

“We purchased a van that was converted into a mobile laboratory in Katsina, we have been funding and organising PZ chemistry challenge for Lagos secondary schools.”

Representative of Mbamba community, Yola, Adamawa State, Malam Umar Aliyu Bello, while thanking the foundation for the project executed in the community, said: “on behalf of the entire members of the Mbamba community, we extend our profound gratitude and appreciation to the P.Z Cussons Foundation, We will remain eternally grateful for renovating Mbamba community health clinic. The renovation undertaken by the foundation has upgraded the clinic. Consequently people from the neighbouring towns and villages patronise the clinic.”

He added “after suffering a long period of darkness due to the breakdown of the transformer supplying electricity to our community, Cussons came to the rescue. The Foundation purchased and installed a brand new 200KVA transformer for the community. This singular gesture has helped our community tremendously. It was able to connect the community primary school, borehole as well as the Mbama Health Clinic to the national grid.

“It is also noteworthy that the following intervention of the foundation, the World Bank also supported the clinic by supplying some clinical equipment as well as hospital beds.”