NBC, wave tackle unemployment, train over 500 youths

Chief Executive Officer, West African Vocational Education (WAVE) Academy, Omolade Adeniyi (left); a beneficiary under the NBC X Wave Youth Empowerment initiative, Moses Oyetayo, and People and Culture Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd, Juliana Esezobor at the NBC X Wave empowerment programme in Lagos.

To tckle unemployment in the country, over 500 youths have completed a viable employability and digital skills training powered by Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd in partnership with the West Africa Vocational Education (WAVE) across Nigeria.
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The intensive training programme was designed by NBC as part of its empowerment initiatives to equip young individuals and women with high-demand skills, whilst enabling them to thrive in the competitive market landscape and scale their businesses.

The initiative is implemented under the NBC 1Million Euros donation provided by its parent company, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), to support communities through social impact programmes.

Participants received comprehensive training in high-demand digital skills, including web design, data analytics, CompTIA Network+, multimedia, and digital marketing.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the programme in Lagos, the People and Culture Director at NBC, Juliana Esezobor said: “An abundant youth population offers a considerable edge to any nation, but if left untapped, it can pose significant challenges. At NBC, we are dedicated to bridging this gap and creating a nurturing atmosphere for the growth of young talents across the nation. Similar to this intervention, we have boosted the employability and entrepreneurial skills of over 39,000 youths in the last 5 years through our flagship Youth Empowered programme. Our firm belief lies in making meaningful contributions to the communities in which we operate, and empowering our youth stands as just one among the numerous approaches we take to achieve that goal.”

She also congratulated all the graduating participants and commended WAVE and the Lagos State Government, for their steadfast dedication to fostering youth empowerment.

Speaking on the partnership, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), WAVE Academy, Omolade Adeniyi enthusiastically said: “We are proud to witness the transformation of these young minds into capable professionals. Seeing them grow and learn across various industries brings us immense joy. We are also grateful to NBC for their dedication to empowering the youth, helping them become financially independent, and making a big impact on reducing poverty and promoting self-awareness in Nigeria. We believe that partnerships like this are a vital step towards a brighter and more prosperous future for the young generation.”

Following the training, over 35 per cent of the beneficiaries were given their place of primary assignments across different industries including the Hospitality, Fashion, ICT, Education and Sales industries respectively while about 30% have commenced their own businesses.
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