Telecom
1000 Alausa Women Graduate From Coca-Cola’s “Catalyst For Change 2.0” Programme
As part of continued efforts to upskill and empower women across underserved communities in Nigeria, Coca-Cola’s women empowerment programme tagged “Catalyst for Change 2.0” has recorded the graduation of 1000 women in Alausa, Ikeja.
The closing ceremony, which took place at the St. Peter Anglican Church on November 4, 2021, in the Alausa community, marked the conclusion of a four-week intensive skills acquisition training in October.
Throughout the four-week programme, 1000 women enrolled in vocational skills such as baking, textile design, production of household cleaning items, wig-making, make-up artistry, bag-making, shoemaking, and more.
The women were also enrolled in business classes to ensure their financial literacy. Additionally, 200 out of the 1,000 women who had proved exceptional, were each provided with start-up kits to help kick-start their businesses.
Launched in August 2020 by local NGO, Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, through a grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation, the “Catalyst for Change” programme is part of Coca-Cola’s vision to ensure the economic empowerment of women and youth in Nigeria.
The first edition of the programme, launched last year, sought to ensure economic recovery during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following its success, a second edition was supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation in October 2021 and is being implemented through the Coca-Cola system in Nigeria which comprises Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company.
This second edition of the programme has been developed to reduce the rate of rural-urban migration caused by a lack of access to opportunities in vulnerable communities.
So far, the programme, in its entirety, has seen the economic empowerment of a total of 6,000 women and youths across several underserved communities in Nigeria.
In her opening remarks at the ceremony, the Founder/Executive Director of the Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, Bukola Bamiduro, said: “This programme was created to drive change in the lives of women through relevant skill-based training and financial literacy sessions.
“We are hopeful that through this programme, beneficiaries will leverage the skills obtained to maintain a steady flow of income as women are economic pillars of the society.”
Ifeyinwa Ejindu, Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, added: “At Coca-Cola, we believe women are integral to our world’s shared success, so we seek to empower them both in the workplace and the communities within which we operate. Women are not only essential to building thriving communities – we believe they represent one of the biggest accelerators of economic growth.
“And this was the driving force behind the Catalyst For Change programme at its inception – to not only empower the women financially but to also ensure they are contributing members of society whose efforts drive the country to economic recovery.”
Oyesola Okunuga, a beneficiary from the program, expressed her gratitude to the Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, stating that the initiative had granted her a new lease on life. “For years, I’ve always been motivated to add some value to this community and those around me.
“I’ve been looking forward to a programme that would help me achieve this and I thank The Coca-Cola Foundation and Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation for supporting this programme.
“I am confident I can support my family and achieve my goal of running a successful business with what I have learnt.”
Also speaking at the event was High-Chief Oluwatoyin Adeyanju, The Baale of Alausa, who expressed his appreciation for the initiative and the support provided by the Coca-Cola System.
He encouraged the women to utilise the opportunity effectively. In his words, “The impact of this programme has been incredible and it fills me with joy to see so many women jump at the chance to be part of it.
“Thanks to Coca-Cola and the Karis and Eleos Foundation, our women have been empowered and made to be contributing members of the Alausa community.”
According to Jerome Oyebanji, Public Affairs & Communications Manager (Lagos & West), Nigerian Bottling Company, the programme will continue to press on in its efforts to “empower women with business and life skills that will elevate them from extreme poverty and encourage community resilience.”
The next tranche of the programme is set to kick off this month in Surulere.
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet network faces increased competition, with challenges from China’s state-backed SpaceSail and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Project Kuiper.
SpaceSail, ased in Shanghai, signed an agreement to enter Brazil in November and started work in Kazakhstan in January, with plans to expand to over 30 countries.
Brazil is also negotiating with Project Kuiper and Canada’s Telesat for high-speed satellite internet services.
The yearly LEO satellite launches by the USA, China, Europe, Russia (formerly the USSR), and other countries are contrasted in this graphic through 2024.
Since 2020, Starlink has launched more satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO) than all competitors combined, providing high-speed internet for remote communities, vessels, and militaries.
Beijing views Musk’s dominance in space as a threat and is heavily investing in rivals and military research to track satellite constellations. Last year, China launched a record 263 LEO satellites.
SpaceSail aims to deploy 648 LEO satellites this year and 15,000 by 2030, forming part of China’s international push into satellite broadband.
This rapid expansion has raised concerns among Western policymakers about Beijing’s potential influence on global digital infrastructure.
Smartcash Payment Service Bank (PSB), a subsidiary of Airtel Nigeria, has been recognised as the Outstanding Payment Service Bank of the Year 2024 (Fintech) at the New Telegraph Awards, reaffirming its continued growth and reach of the PSB within the last year.
The award ceremony, which took place at the Lagos Oriental Hotel recently, celebrated Smartcash PSB’s commitment to providing seamless, secure, and inclusive financial solutions aimed at driving financial inclusion across Nigeria.
During his welcome address, The Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph Newspapers, Ayodele Aminu, emphasized the need to recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions across various sectors.
“The New Telegraph Awards was in place to identify and assess individuals or organisations who have played a significant impact in politics, governance, industry, and other sectors of life. We believe that acknowledging them will galvanize the awardees towards greater productivity and excellence in their various fields and we look forward to seeing the incredible impact they will continue to make,” he said.
Commenting on the award, Chief Executive Officer, SmartCash PSB, Ayotunde Kuponiyi said, “Receiving the Outstanding PSB of the Year 2024 (Fintech Award) from New Telegraph is a testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing financial inclusion and empowering MSMEs across Nigeria.
At SmartCash PSB, we remain dedicated to bridging the financial gap for underserved communities through innovative and accessible solutions. This recognition strengthens our resolve to drive economic empowerment and sustainable growth for millions of Nigerians.”
CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, remarked that the award was a reminder to the company of its commitment to excellent customer services. “The recognition by New Telegraph again reminds us as a business to remain dedicated to keeping the customer at the heart of our operations,” he said.
Since its launch, Smartcash PSB has continued to advance the digital payments landscape by offering secure payments, mobile banking solutions, and agent banking services, enabling seamless financial transactions for both urban and underserved communities.
The event had prominent guests in attendance, including former chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority and statesman Chief Bode George who was the chairman of the awards; Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, publisher of New Telegraph; Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development; and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State; among others.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has raised alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
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