News
Coca-Cola Empowers Over 600 Women with Vocational Skills
The Coca-Cola Foundation in partnership with the Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, have graduated a total of 612 women who participated in its free vocational skills acquisition training program called “Catalyst for Change”.
This has brought immeasurable joy to the women of Sangotedo who were at the held on Friday, October 2, 2020.
The aim of the one-month intensive training program is to aid economic recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The graduation ceremony which took place at the Sangotedo Primary School witnessed the presence of prominent members of the host community, Coca-Cola and Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation.
Some of those present include; the Baale of Sangotedo, Chief Rafiu Lawal Ajakaiye, represented by Mr. Raman Suleman; Women leader of Eti-Osa East LCDA, Hon Oyedemi Folashade Olarotimi; the NULGE Chairman and HOD Education, Eti Osa East, Comrade Omojole Olabode; the CCO to the head teacher at Sangotedo Primary School, Mr Haruna Abulwakin Public Affairs Communication and sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mrs Nwamaka Onyemelukwe; Founder, Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, Mrs Bukola Bamiduro; ED, RecyclePoints, Mr. Taiwo Adewole and many others.
The vocational skills that the students learned include; baking, sewing, wig making, tie and dye, shoe and bag making, soap and household items production.
100 students out of the 612 graduates were presented with start-up kits for their different areas of interest.
The Valedictorian, Ekhator Esther Clara, profusely thanked the Coca-Cola Foundation, as well as the Karis and Eleos Foundation for providing them with this invaluable experience. According to her, beyond the vocational skills that were taught, they were also equipped with soft skills like personal branding, use of social media for business, financial literacy and networking, to mention a few.
She also encouraged her fellow participants and graduates not to have a limiting mindset.
According to Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, public affairs, Communication and sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, “Women are not only essential to building thriving communities – we truly believe they represent one of the biggest accelerators to economic growth globally.
“That is why Coca-Cola has been commitment to economically empowering women over the past 10 years to build sustainable communities.
She thanked the leadership of the community profusely for their support in making the vision a reality, while urging the graduating students to ensure that they remain good ambassadors of the Coca-Cola ‘Catalyst for Change’ initiative.
The founder of Karis and Eleos foundation admonished the students to engage in continuous self-development even as they graduate from the vocational school.
She urged them to never compromise on quality and emphasized the importance of saving.
The Women leader of Eti-Osa East LCDA, Hon. Folashade Olarotimi, who was also one of the graduating students expressed her deep appreciation to Coca-Cola and Karis and Eleos Foundations for their commitment to building human capacity and empowering lives.
She advised the graduating students to make great use of all the skills learnt and ensure that they add value to the society.
The Baale of Sangotedo, Chief Rafiu Lawal Ajakaiye, represented by Mr. Raman Suleman expressed the community’s gratitude and joy.
He stated that this empowerment program will no doubt go a long way in alleviating the economic hardship caused by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ceremony ended with immense gratitude and joy from the community leaders and graduates who expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Coca-Cola foundation as well as the Karis and Eleos foundation for their support.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), has disclosed plans to work with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), to boost the state’s transport system with the development of another rail line.
This was contained in a statement signed by, the Head, Corporate Communication, LAMATA, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi in Lagos.
Ojelabi said that the AfDB Vice President, Private Sector Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Mr. Solomon Quaynor, gave the assurance during a visit to LAMATA.
He added that the bank was interested in partnering LAMATA to expand the capacity of the existing rail system.
“Quaynor was also in the company of the Non-Sovereign Operations and Private Sector Equity Specialist, Mr Mayowa Ayodele ahead of a visit of the technical team to assess the Purple line,” he said.
The Purple Line is a 60-kilometre railroad along the Redemption Camp in Ogun State, traversing Berger, Agege and Alimosho and terminate at Volkswagen to join the Blue Line.
“The visit follows a recent pitch for investment on 60-kilometre Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Purple Line at the African Development Bank forum in Morocco, where the Lagos delegation was led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“This is to further discuss collaboration on the project and other lines outlined in the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan. The delegation toured the LRMT Blue Line and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Blue Line rail system,” he said.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government the 36 states over the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024.
SERAP is arguing that “the repressive use of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 by the government to criminalize legitimate expression violate the human rights of Nigerians, including activists, journalists, bloggers and social media users”.
In a statement on Sunday, Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, explained that the suit was filed to stop the Tinubu administration and Nigeria’s 36 governors from using the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 to criminalize legitimate expression and punish Nigerians, including social media users.
He said: “Rather than using the amended legislation to make cyberspace and its users safer, Nigerian authorities are routinely weaponizing it to curb Nigerians’ human rights and media freedom.
“The suit no: ECW/CCJ/APP/03/2025 was filed last week before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja.”
Recall that Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court had on March 25, 2022, declared Section 24 of Nigeria’s original Cybercrimes Act 2015 as “arbitrary, vague, and repressive.”
The court ordered Nigeria to repeal the provision, citing non-compliance with human rights obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Although the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 repealed Section 24, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) argues that the reworded provisions still infringe upon freedom of expression and information.
SERAP’s concerns center around the ambiguity of “causing a breakdown of law and order” in Section 24(1)(b), which they believe threatens peaceful and legitimate expression and leaves room for abuse.
SERAP highlighted several instances where the law was allegedly misused to target government critics, including activist Dele Farotimi, journalist Agba Jalingo, and social media user Chioma Okoli.
The organization emphasized that the amended legislation has a chilling effect on human rights and media freedom.
SERAP stressed that the amended Act contravenes international human rights law, which requires restrictions on freedom of expression to serve a legitimate purpose and be strictly proportionate.
The organization seeks a declaration that Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 is unlawful and an order directing the government to repeal or amend the legislation in compliance with international standards.
However, a hearing date has not been set for the suit.
Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has applauded Mr. Monday Okpebholo, Edo State governor, for the appointment of Mr. Collins Edomaruse as his Special Adviser, International Development Partners (IDP).
Ms Maureen Chigbo, president of GOCOP and publisher of RealNews Online, described Edomaruse’s appointment as a welcomed development.
Chigbo in a press statement by Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, GOCOP Publicity Secretary, also congratulated Edomaruse for this appointment assuring of support from over 110 members of GOCOP in carrying out his duties.
Until his appointment, Edomaruse who is a founding member of GOCOP and the Secretary General of the body of reputed online publishers is also a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), among others.
Edomaruse doubles as the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of METROWATCH, and has held several senior editorial management positions in THISDAY, including Group News Editor, Group Politics Editor, Deputy Editor, Daily, Saturday and Sunday titles respectively, as well as the Editor, Nation’s Capital/Abuja Bureau.
Also known as ‘General’ because of his mastery of the Defence Beat, his records in THISDAY have remained unbeaten, where he ranked the best among the editors.
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