Oyo state government has commended Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc for being a leading responsible corporate resident of the state.
Noting that the company has consistently demonstrated an appreciable sense of corporate social responsibility, the government recounted the recent commissioning of 663.6 kilowatts per hour off grid solar plant that has the capacity to enhance power supply within the community.
The government gave the commendation through the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Administration, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe while flagging off an empowerment training for youths and women at a ceremony which held at the Alalubosa Community Hall, Alalubosa, Egbeda local government on Tuesday.
The 2021 Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) is facilitated by Nigerian Brewery for 75 youths and women of the business host community.
Ogedengbe who is also the State Focal Person on Human Capital Development urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the training and empowerment opportunity so as to boost the morale of the company to do more.
He also commended the company for designing the empowerment as an answer to an earlier need assessment effort conducted for the beneficiary host communities.
He added that, with the empowerment, NB Plc has demonstrated that private sector contributions would not only stimulate economic growth but can also help in the implementation of an effective human capital development agenda, particularly with respect to enhancing labour force participation in the state.
Ogedengbe said “I bring warm greetings from our dear Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, and first and foremost wish to commend the Management of Nigerian Breweries Plc on this occasion of their 2021 empowerment program.
“Nigerian Breweries Plc is one of the corporate citizens in our land that has consistently demonstrated an appreciable sense of corporate social responsibility.
“Not long ago, His Excellency was here to commission a 663.6 kilowatts per hour off grid solar plant that has the capacity to enhance power supply within this community. We all know the critical role that power supply plays in our day to day lifestyle.
“Nigerian Breweries has demonstrated that private sector contributions would not only stimulate economic growth but can also help in the implementation of an effective Human Capital Development agenda, particularly with respect to enhancing labour force participation in the state.
“Business-led initiatives such as the empowerment of the youths within the host Community in which they operate, will go a long way in contributing to the goal of our government towards reducing empowerment and bringing prosperity to our people.
“We are glad to note that this empowerment effort is based on a needs assessment conducted by Nigerian Breweries Plc within the communities of Alalubosa, Osun, Majawe, Alaagba and Isebo. This is very important in order to ensure that the beneficiaries will be trained in vocations where the society will be positively impacted while the passion and interest of the various beneficiaries are sustained.
“The decision of Nigerian Breweries not only to train the youths in various vocations but also to provide the trained men and women with start up tools and equipment in their chosen vocation is highly commendable.
“It is usually said that idle hands are the devil’s workshop. We believe that a number of the restiveness among our youths today is caused by unemployment. Hence, when our abled bodied men and women, even those living with disabilities are empowered, they will lead meaningful lives and abstain from acts capable of disrupting peace and orderliness in our society.”
He said further “In bringing my speech to an end, it is important that I make the beneficiaries know the significance of this training and empowerment. Please, see this as a demonstration of a trust and confidence in you among the several youth in the State that could have been selected. Do all within your power to ensure that this program move you towards becoming productive and prosperous.
Let me once again thank Nigerian Breweries for this kind gesture towards training and empowering our youths and also to implore more stakeholders within the Oyo State business community to join our efforts at stemming the high rate of unemployment in our state.”
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sports, Oludele Oyadeji thanked NB for the initiative noting that the measure will help engage the youths positively and productively.
