Youths empowered in new CSR initiative

With Nigeria’s population increasing exponentially in recent years, putting overwhelming pressure on the limited and already overstretched economic opportunities, about 100 youths from Awo-Omamma Community, in Oru East Council of Imo State have been empowered through a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative tagged, ‘Partnership for Growth’.

The beneficiaries would be trained in different vocational skills ranging from confectionery, cosmetology, manicure and pedicure, braiding, solar panel installation, landscaping, cell phone repairs, barbing, shoemaking to fashion designing.

They would also be taught basic bookkeeping, business management, customer service and life/soft skills.

Many have argued that the country’s economic outlook could be improved when young people are provided with entrepreneurial opportunities to acquire knowledge, vocational and life skills that create wealth and support livelihood.

Hence, the initiative is aimed at equipping Nigerian youths, especially those in communities with vocational and life skills that create wealth and support livelihood.

‘Partnership for Growth’ is initiated by Nigerian Breweries to create trust and strengthen the relationship between the company and the community where it operates.

Sade Morgan, Corporate Affairs Director, NB Plc. said the firm embarked on the youth-based community intervention programme, to address critical needs of stakeholders in the community.

She said through the programme, the company “aims to enhance the potential of the youths through this platform to provide young people in the community with access to vocational skills and a network of peers and mentors.

“From our engagements with the community, we identified the youth as a resourceful group with a need for empowerment to enable them achieve their full potential and support livelihood in the community.”

She added that the company would certify beneficiaries and support them with seed investment in tools of trade for the acquired skills.

The theme of the programme is “Partnership for Growth: Invest, Involve, Inspire”.

The company has been a long time sponsor of youth empowerment programmes, under its “Youth Empowerment and Talent Development” agenda, which provides a platform for young people to display, hone and get rewarded for their talents.

Some other youth empowerment and talent development programmes sponsored by the company include creative writer’s workshop and the national arts competition, organized for over 10 years. Others are the national reading competition, designed for SSS1-3 students in secondary schools across the country, to empower Nigerian youth and channel their energies to more productive ventures.