As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) has initiated a maritime skills acquisition project for Oginigba youths, its main host community in Rivers State.
The initiative is designed to equip youths with skills required to secure employment in the very lucrative maritime industry both locally and internationally.
Speaking during a graduation ceremony of 12 pioneer beneficiaries of the Oginigba Youth Maritime Technical Skills Training, director, legal, public affairs and communications of
NBC, Sade Morgan, said NBC took the initiative because an investment in youths was investment in the future of Nigeria.
NBC, Sade Morgan, said NBC took the initiative because an investment in youths was investment in the future of Nigeria.
She admonished other companies to find sustainable ways of giving back to their host communities; saying that “the future will be shaped by today`s young people, hence NBC`s special attention to supporting young persons to realize their full potentials.”
She added that “one of the focal areas of NBC`s CSR framework was youth empowerment, water and environmental stewardship.
The NBC-sponsored maritime skills acquisition project for Oginigba youths is an initiative designed to equip youths with skills required to secure employment in the maritime industry.
It designed to enable them compete favourably with their counterparts locally, regionally and globally and connect them with opportunities in the Nigerian and international maritime industry based on the skills that are acquired during this training and the
project.
project.
Morgan added that the project was designed with sustainability in focus; stressing that towards this end, the beneficiaries have subscribed and are committed to contributing to a “pay it forward community fund,” which comes with a monthly stipend contribution by each beneficiary upon securing employment.
The fund, which would be supported by NBC would be used to take more youths through the programme. As more beneficiaries contribute to the fund, more opportunity will be provided for teeming youths in the community. This is a very profound way in which the beneficiaries
will give back to the community, she stated; while encouraging the beneficiaries to make the best of the opportunity, and inspire others to participate in initiatives to develop their careers in their chosen fields of specialization.
will give back to the community, she stated; while encouraging the beneficiaries to make the best of the opportunity, and inspire others to participate in initiatives to develop their careers in their chosen fields of specialization.
Two of the beneficiaries, Steven Amadi and Julia Echeonwu, on behalf of others, described the opportunity as memorable and awesome; saying it would help them to empower themselves and many others in the community and around them. Amadi noted specifically that with the initiatives and training, maritime job opportunities that had eluded them in the past would no
longer be so, as they are now ready to snap up any such opportunities that that come their way.
longer be so, as they are now ready to snap up any such opportunities that that come their way.
Paramount ruler of Oginigba, Gershom Odum lauded the NBC for the initiative, and admonished other companies in Oginigba to emulate the company by employing people of the host community, especially qualified youths.
