Coca-Cola strengthens ‘Equip 60,000’ initiative

As part of efforts to help youth and women fulfill their potential, particularly in the competitive world of business, The Coca-Cola Foundation has set out to empower 60,000 people in Nigeria with modern entrepreneurial skills with a good number of them also getting grants.

At the hybrid closing ceremony for the Kano leg of the event, held recently, Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, disclosed that the initiative, tagged ‘Equip 60,000’, would see the training and empowerment of several youths and women across the country as part of the company’s commitment to youth and women entrepreneurship under its new Africa sustainability platform termed JAMII.

“We are in partnership with the Whitefield Foundation to empower the youth and women across Nigeria with practical money-making skills and to ensure that the programme touches as many lives as possible,” she stated.

In addition to knowledge empowerment, The Coca-Cola Foundation had also been offering business grants to those who distinguished themselves during the training. The grants come in three categories of gold, silver and bronze.

Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Ekuma Eze, pointed out that the initiative is for empowering youths and women as part of efforts to help these important segments fulfill their potentials and impact on the society more positively.

Chief Executive, Whitefield Foundation, Funmi Johnson, expressed delight at partnering with The Coca-Cola Foundation on this initiative, describing it as a unique opportunity of transforming lives with both the training and business grants.