Cadbury Nigeria appraises CSR project

Cadbury Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, has said its signature corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative tagged Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle project, which officially ended this month, had achieved the desired outcomes.

The four-year project, which cost about $1million, was sponsored by Mondelēz International Foundation, and implemented by Helen Keller International, as part of the organisation’s CSR activities aimed at tackling malnutrition and obesity among children in some selected primary schools within its host communities in Lagos State.

Initially billed to end in December 2020, the project was extended to December 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic that affected activities in the schools last year.

In a statement, Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye, Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this pilot project funded by Mondelēz International, our parent company, as part of its commitment to promoting ‘Snacking Made Right.’ We thank our implementing partner, Helen Keller International, for their dedication and professionalism.

“This is a project that we are all proud of. The results have been quite encouraging. The project has increased the knowledge of the target beneficiaries on how to promote good nutrition and healthy lifestyle. It has also enabled the pupils to participate more actively in class and consume nutrient-rich foods.”

Similarly, Ms. Philomena Orji, Country Director, Helen Keller International said: “The past four years of work in public primary schools in Lagos have been exciting and fulfilling for Helen Keller. Thanks to our partnership with Mondelez International and Cadbury Nigeria, we have been able to directly reach 11,234 children with nutrition education and supported them to exercise more and grow nutrient-rich crops. Through this project, we have reached over 179,309 Lagosians. We are grateful to Mondelez International for the opportunity to impact the lives of children and their families.”

Also, Education Secretary, Ikeja Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Amosu Akeem, said Helen Keller International complemented the efforts of the Lagos State Government by providing basic amenities in the beneficiary schools. “There is no school you will go to in Ikeja that you will not see hand washing bowls,” he pointed out.

Director, Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Hakeem Olalekan, noted that: “The intervention of Helen Keller International in our schools and in Lagos State since the year 2018, has been a great blessing.”

Head Teacher, Ogba Primary School, and Chairman, Association of Primary Schools Head Teachers of Nigeria, Ikeja Branch, Mrs. Bolanle Oni, said she attended the training organized by Helen Keller International where she learnt how to establish a home garden and the choice of foods to promote a healthy life. “I want to say a big thank you to Helen Keller International for improving our knowledge on nutrition and the choice of foods we need to eat,” she added.

Similarly, Mr. Taiwo Oladapo, a teacher at Ojodu Primary School 2, expressed delight with the artificial grass donated to the school, noting that: “We have been able to identify pupils who will represent the school in some particular games because of their new-found interest in physical activities.”
For Mrs. Gladys Ine, a parent: “They have touched lives of the people in Ikeja LGA, especially in the nine schools where they have the project.”

According to the statement, which was issued by Frederick Mordi, Corporate Communications and Government Affairs Manager for Cadbury Nigeria, Mondelēz International will continue to invest in initiatives that add value to society in line with one of its values: ‘Do what’s right.”