•Bukola Dare, Regional Business Manager, Ibadan, Nigerian Breweries Plc (third left standing) with some of the 25 beneficiaries of theN300,000 grants each, during the presentation ceremony of Isedowo empowerment scheme in Oyo State, held at Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.
With about 20 brands in its portfolio, Nigerian Breweries Plc has said that its brands will continue to appeal to Nigerians of different cultures and religions, making it an essential part of the life of an average citizen.
According to Nigerian Breweries Plc, Isedowo, an empowerment initiative sponsored by Goldberg, a brand of NB, exemplifies how the private sector can stimulate the growth of entrepreneurship in the country. The initiative, which targets the South-West region, has distributed N18 million to 60 artisans in Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States with each beneficiary receiving N300,000. At the completion of the programme, additional 40 artisans with creative and job-creating business plans will receive N300,000 grant to support their enterprise.
Speaking at the launch in Ile Ife, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, commended NB for taking a bold step at improving the lot of small-scale entrepreneurs in the South-West region, adding that the company had indeed challenged other corporate organisations. The revered traditional ruler said Isedowo would emancipate young unemployed youths who he urged to seize the opportunity to pursue their ambitions.
“On behalf of my brothers from the seven Yoruba speaking states, I thank Goldberg lager beer and NB for this partnership with the Yoruba people. By leading the way to support the businesses and entrepreneurial potential of artisans in the South-West, you have challenged other corporate bodies to give back to the society where they operate,” the monarch declared.
Marketing Director, NB Plc, Franco Maria Maggi, who was in Ile-Ife for the project flag-off, said the empowerment initiative presented a mutually beneficial union between the Yoruba and Goldberg, a brand that does not only respects the traditions of the Yoruba people but also seeks opportunities to empower the young men and women in the region.
“We believe that as the custodian of the Yoruba culture, the blessing of the Ooni will rub off positively on Isedowo. It will set it on a path of achieving the objectives of positively transforming the lives of its beneficiaries with spill over effects on the larger economy through job and wealth creation,” Maggi said.
Less than six months since it was unveiled, there are already testimonies about the transformational capacity of Isedowo as beneficiaries said the scheme has given them huge financial relief. Ojo Adeosun, a fashion designer, said the N300,000 grant helped him in purchasing a new sewing machine he needed to expand his business. With the new machine, Adeosun has started making clothes and has recruited three people to work with him. With the grant, another beneficiary, Kayode Tope Ogunro, a photo/videographer, has set up a photo studio.
Goldberg is also identifying with the Yoruba race through Ariya Repete, a cultural music talent hunt. Onimama Fausiya, a budding female Fuji musician from Ilorin, Kwara State, was rewarded with N1 million plus a recording deal in the Fuji category, while Leye Williams, a talented Juju artiste from Osun State, received the same prizes for winning the 2017 edition of the event. Other young singers got prizes ranging from N100,000 to N750,000 to encourage them to pursue their artistic dreams.
With Ariya Repete, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, a Fuji legend, said NB had proved its genuine interest in growing the Nigerian music industry.
Maltina Teacher of the Year is, perhaps, the most outstanding reward system for the teaching profession. Through the initiative, Nigerian Breweries Plc celebrates an outstanding teacher every year, gives him or her cash prize of N6.5 million with payment spread across five years and an overseas training. In addition, a block of classroom is built for the winner’s school. Runners-up and 36 state champions of the initiative, which has been held since 2015, also get prizes ranging from N500,000 to N1.5 million each.
The initiative has so far produced 69 state champions and three overall winners.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule had described the initiative as a huge motivation to teachers and the teaching profession. Each year, interest in the award continues to increase just as stakeholders have called on other corporate entities to emulate the gesture that seek to increase the dignity of teachers and makes the profession attractive to young people.
While Nigerians were celebrating last year’s independence anniversary, a Gulder-sponsored television series, called ‘Guy Code’ that appeals to young male viewers, came into the scene. The show identified and drew attention to etiquette-related themes where most ‘Naija’ guys err when relating with their peers and the female folks with a view to correct culturally-entrenched misconceptions.
NB has also demonstrated its ‘pan-Nigerian’ posture through the iconic Maltina Dance Hall, a competition that has accentuated the beauty in the country’s diversity and helped to identify talents in the dancing profession.
The company’s Golden Pen Award is probably the most rewarding journalist-honour in the country. Last year, the overall winner received a cash prize of N2 million. Other categories of winners got cash prizes ranging from N500,000 to N1 million. However, this initiative has been described by media professionals as a unique way of winning with the under-paid professionals.
