As part of its core objective of giving back to the society, the Coca Cola Foundation has partnered with Whitefield Foundation to train no fewer than 20,700 women in various trades.
The women were trained in trades such as food, gele tying, production of cosmetics and insecticides, and curriculum vitae preparation.
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During their graduation under the Special Intervention Programme (SIP) at the Capstone Centre in Yaba, Lagos, recently, Coca Cola Foundation Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Amaka Onyemelukwe, said the company is 70 years old in Nigeria, and that it owes its long existence to the support of the people, especially women, who have been a pillar of its success.
The company, she said, recognises the need to empower the people to make a difference in their lives. For this reason, she said in the last 10 years, it embarked on an empowerment programme.
She noted that the skills acquired by the beneficiaries would enable them to be employers and create wealth. She urged them to make good use of their training and be good ambassadors of the programme.
On her own part, Whitefield Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mrs Funmi Johnson said the training started last September and ended last month. The non-governmental organisation (NGO), with the assistance of its partners, has since inception, trained over 20,700 with a special focus on women, she added. She thanked the partners, especially Coca Cola, for their kind gestures. She said their goal is to train 100,000 people by the end of the year.
She listed their challenges to include inadequate funding and lack of government support.
Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Area, Lagos State Hon Kayode Adejare Omiyale praised Whitefield for their work. He advised churches to emulate them. He also advised the graduates of the training to put their skills to better use.
