Broadcasting
Coca-Cola’s RESWAYE Project Ends With 159,000kg of Plastic Waste Recovered

The Recycling Scheme for Women and Youth Empowerment (RESWAYE), an environmental sustainability and women empowerment initiative, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, has come to an end.
The project, executed by implementing partners, the Mental and Environmental Development Initiative for Children (MEDIC), to drive environmental protection, marine conservation, and women empowerment, concluded with a closing ceremony at Ibeju Lekki on Friday, May 21, 2021.
Present at the event were key government dignitaries, community leaders, and Coca-Cola representatives including Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Ifeyinwa Ejindu, Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Doyinsola Ogunye, Founder, MEDIC; Barr. Mrs Rhoda Ogunye, Trustee, MEDIC; Chief (Honourable) Olalekan Bakare, Secretary to the Apapa Local Government Council and Chairman of the body of secretaries to Local Govts and LCDAs in Lagos (Scribes57); Chief Tajudeen Adams, Baale Of Igbolomi and Chairman of Baales, Ibeju-Lekki LCDA; Honourable Tosin Osunnuga, Secretary to the Local Government, Lekki LCDA; Honourable Semiu Waliu, Secretary to the Local Government Council, Ibeju Lekki; and Ogunlana Olaseni, Head, Recycling, Lekki Free Trade Zone, East District 2, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
Launched in 2020, the RESWAYE project was developed following concerns around Nigeria’s increasingly polluted shorelines and coastal lines as Nigeria is reported to generate 32 million tonnes of plastic waste every year with the majority ending up in landfills, beaches, and other water bodies.
Through the initiative, Coca-Cola sought to tackle this challenge while ensuring women’s economic empowerment within the target communities. As a result, the initiative was incentivised, providing low-income communities in the Ibeju Lekki area with an opportunity to earn an income while ensuring marine and environmental conservation.
After 18 months of enlisting women and young people in the plastic buy-back scheme across 16 coastal communities in Ibeju Lekki, the project recorded impressive numbers at its conclusion with over 150,000kg of plastic waste reportedly removed from the coastal and shorelines; over 2000 women and youth empowered economically, and 2,124 households impacted – resulting in over 13,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries.
Speaking at the event, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, lauded the initiative and emphasised the need for corporations to scale up efforts to alleviate the country’s burgeoning plastic waste problem.
“At Coca-Cola, we are aware of the devastating implications of climate change on our environment, health and economy at large. The RESWAYE project was developed to combat this looming problem, and I am pleased with what we have achieved over the past 18 months.
By partnering with credible NGOs such as MEDIC, we developed an effective recycling system that met the unique needs of the Ibeju Lekki communities, making recycling more accessible to everyone while also ensuring the economic empowerment of women and youths”, she stated.
Doyinsola Ogunye, founder of MEDIC added, “Seeing the impact we have made in these communities through our network of women and youth recyclers over the past 18 months has been deeply fulfilling. Through Coca-Cola’s support, we have ensured the economic empowerment of women, looked after communities, and cleared an inordinate amount of plastic waste from the oceans even in the turbulent times experienced last year”.
The Secretary to the Local Government Lekki LGA, Chief (Honourable) Olalekan Bakare, also lauded the initiative, commending Coca-Cola for “devising a creative solution to our community’s waste problem” and urged more corporate bodies to do more.
The RESWAYE project is in line with Coca-Cola’s “World Without Waste” mandate which fosters collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including partners, governments, and civil society organisations like MEDIC, to foster continued leadership in reducing its carbon footprint. By 2030, Coca-Cola also aims to help collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one sold by the company.
According to Nwamaka, Coca-Cola will continue to work with communities to better understand their recycling and collection challenges while engendering a recycling culture amongst residents.
Broadcasting
Navigating the Maze: Solutions for Nigeria’s Flourishing Foodtech Industry

By Diana Tenabe, Chief Operating Officer, Foodstuff Store
Nigeria’s foodtech sector holds immense promise to transform our nation’s food production, distribution, and consumption systems.
However, this burgeoning industry currently navigates a complex maze of challenges that could significantly hinder its progress. While innovation and entrepreneurial drive are abundant, a confluence of infrastructural deficits, economic headwinds, technological disparities, and logistical complexities casts a shadow on the sector’s long-term viability.
Understanding and addressing these multifaceted hurdles is paramount for foodtech companies aspiring to thrive and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s food security.
One of the most significant impediments to the foodtech sector’s advancement is Nigeria’s persistent infrastructural weaknesses.
The unreliable power supply, a well-known constraint for businesses nationwide, directly threatens food preservation, increasing spoilage risks and driving up operational costs for companies reliant on refrigeration and consistent processing.
Similarly, the often-deteriorated state of our road networks complicates logistics and transportation, hindering the efficient movement of goods from farms to consumers and across the supply chain.
Furthermore, limited access to clean water exacerbates operational challenges, particularly for maintaining food processing and hygiene standards. Collectively, these infrastructural shortcomings inflate operational expenses and introduce vulnerabilities throughout the food supply chain.
Economic constraints add another layer of intricacy. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates create instability in pricing and procurement, especially for businesses dealing with imported technologies or ingredients. Persistent inflation erodes consumer purchasing power and increases the cost of essential inputs, squeezing profit margins for startups.
Moreover, limited access to credit and investment capital makes it difficult for emerging foodtech companies to secure the necessary funding to invest in crucial technology, infrastructure, and expansion efforts.
This financial constraint can stifle innovation and prevent promising ventures from reaching their full potential.
The digital divide also poses a unique challenge for foodtech companies aiming to leverage online platforms and digital solutions. While mobile phone usage is widespread in Nigeria, disparities in digital literacy and access to reliable internet connectivity can restrict the widespread adoption of online food ordering and delivery services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
This necessitates creative and inclusive strategies to bridge the digital gap and reach a broader consumer base.
Inefficiencies within the supply chain represent a critical bottleneck in the Nigerian food system. Fragmented agricultural supply chains, characterised by numerous intermediaries and a lack of transparency, contribute to alarmingly high post-harvest losses.
Inadequate storage facilities and inefficient transportation infrastructure further compound these issues, leading to significant waste and price volatility.
Addressing these systemic weaknesses is crucial for ensuring a stable and affordable food supply for all Nigerians.
Navigating Nigeria’s regulatory landscape can also be a daunting task for foodtech businesses. The presence of multiple regulatory agencies, coupled with often bureaucratic and time-consuming processes for obtaining licenses and permits, can create significant hurdles for startups. Clear, consistent, and streamlined processes within the regulatory framework are essential to foster a more enabling environment for innovation and growth.
Building consumer trust and acceptance for new food technologies requires overcoming inherent skepticism and unfamiliarity. Concerns regarding food safety, quality, and the security of online transactions can hinder the adoption of novel food products and digital platforms.
Transparent communication, robust quality control measures, and consistent consumer engagement are vital for building confidence and fostering widespread acceptance.
Finally, a notable talent gap exists within the Nigerian foodtech ecosystem.
A shortage of professionals possessing specialised skills in food science, technology, business management, and logistics can limit the growth and innovation capacity of companies in this sector. Addressing this skills deficit through targeted training and development initiatives is crucial for long-term success.
Despite these significant challenges, promising pathways forward can be forged through innovative and context-specific approaches. Investing in localised infrastructure solutions, such as independent power generation and efficient localised logistics networks, can mitigate the impact of broader infrastructural deficiencies.
Exploring diverse funding avenues beyond traditional banking, including angel investors, government grants, crowdfunding, and revenue-based financing, can alleviate financial constraints.
Adapting to the digital divide by leveraging basic mobile technology and employing offline strategies like local agent networks can expand reach and inclusivity.
Building resilient supply chains through direct farmer relationships, investing in aggregation centres, and utilising technology for farm management offer tangible solutions to logistical inefficiencies.
Proactive engagement with regulatory bodies and advocating for clearer, more supportive policies are crucial for navigating the regulatory landscape effectively. Building consumer trust necessitates transparent sourcing practices, clear communication about product benefits and safety, and active engagement with consumer feedback.
Finally, investing in talent development through collaborations with educational institutions and in-house training programs can bridge the critical skills gap.
Foodstuff Store is emerging as a business with a clear vision to directly confront several of these challenges. We are actively developing a decentralised network of businesses supported by strategically located distribution hubs across target states.
This approach will directly address the limitations imposed by poor road networks, ensuring more localised access to our food products.
Furthermore, the establishment of regional storage facilities, including a state-of-the-art solar-powered cold storage, directly tackles infrastructural deficiencies related to food preservation and ensuring a consistent supply.
Foodstuff Store’s ambition for end-to-end management of the food supply chain, encompassing in-house production, direct sourcing, advanced storage solutions, and efficient distribution, offers a powerful solution to existing supply chain inefficiencies.
This integrated approach promises enhanced quality control, significant reductions in post-harvest losses, and a more reliable supply of both perishable and non-perishable goods for our customers.
Our aspiration to become the “Amazon for Food Products” is a clear and ambitious goal underpinned by a technology-driven approach to all aspects of our operational management.
Foodstuff Store’s vision underscores a business model strategically designed to overcome significant hurdles within the Nigerian foodtech sector, offering a beacon of potential and a pathway to a more secure and efficient food system in a challenging yet remarkably promising landscape.
Broadcasting
History as TVC News Unveils Nigeria’s First AI-Powered News Anchors

TVC News has broken new ground in Nigeria’s media space with the launch of the country’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) news presenters.
Rolled out in May 2025, the AI anchors will deliver news bulletins in English, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Pidgin, reflecting the broadcaster’s commitment to technological advancement and linguistic inclusion.
The initiative is designed to enhance news delivery by supporting human journalists, not replacing them.
TVC Communications, the parent company of TVC News, described the development as a milestone in its efforts to integrate cutting-edge technology into broadcast journalism.
“We are thrilled to pioneer this innovation in Nigeria’s media industry,” said Victoria Ajayi, chief executive officer, TVC Communications.
“Our AI news anchors represent a new era in news reporting, and this move underscores our dedication to using technology as a tool for growth and progress.”
Ajayi clarified that the AI-generated content will undergo thorough editorial review.
“Trained journalists and editors will assess every output to ensure it meets our standards of accuracy, balance, and credibility,” she noted.
In response to concerns about the potential misuse of AI, the organisation said it had established rigorous editorial safeguards, including watermarking and verification protocols. It also reaffirmed its adherence to the Nigerian Broadcasting Code and journalistic ethics.
With this launch, TVC News has become a trailblazer in AI-assisted journalism in Africa, setting a bold example for future media innovation across the continent.
Broadcasting
FXTM Academy Hosts Charity Cycling Event, Pedal for Progress

FXTM Academy recently hosted the Pedal for Progress charity cycling event, bringing together 200 participants from cities across Nigeria, including Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Lagos.
Held on Saturday, April 19, the competition featured six race categories—Professional Male, Professional Female, Junior Male, Junior Female, Veteran Male, and Veteran Female—allowing cyclists of all skill levels to compete.
The race began at 8:00 a.m., with Juniors completing 10 laps, Veterans tackling 14 laps, and Professionals racing 20 laps, each lap spanning 2.8 kilometers.
Participants competed for significant cash prizes, with winners in the Professional categories receiving ₦800,000, ₦500,000, ₦300,000, and ₦200,000, while those finishing 5th to 15th place earned ₦50,000 each. Junior and Veteran winners also received substantial rewards.
Spectators and participants praised FXTM Academy for fostering unity, sportsmanship, and talent development, with many eagerly anticipating future events.
The academy emphasized its commitment to empowering communities and promoting values such as perseverance, discipline, endurance, and continuous improvement.
FXTM Academy’s Country Representative, Kelechi Ehibudu, highlighted the academy’s dedication to blending sport, charity, and empowerment, setting a new benchmark for community-focused initiatives in Nigeria.
- E-Business3 days ago
Expert Urges FG to Leverage Digital Assets to Drive Diversification Goal
- General News3 days ago
SeamlessHR, AOPN Push Payroll Innovation for Nigeria’s Outsourcing Growth
- General News3 days ago
FG Faults AfDB’s Adesina on Nigeria’s GDP Per Capita Figures
- News3 days ago
Cabals Still Fighting our Refinery – Dangote
- Telecom3 days ago
Telcos Plan Zero Tariff in Some Regions with Low Opex
- E-Financial3 days ago
First Asset Management Surpasses ₦1 Trillion in Assets Under Management
- E-Financial2 days ago
CBN Spending on Naira Printing, Distribution up by 306 Percent
- Telecom3 days ago
AVEVA Appoints Sébastien Ory as EMEA VP Partners & Channels