In a bid to upskill and empower women through recovery from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, The Coca-Cola Company through its philanthropic arm, The Coca-Cola Foundation, has partnered with Nigeria-based NGO, Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, to help equip 5000 women with relevant vocational skills and business training.

The grant, awarded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, represents efforts to continually make a difference in the lives of women who remain pillars of the society; by providing business-focused trainings through its local implementing partner, Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, with the purpose of enhancing business acumen and scaling up micro enterprises to guarantee sustenance for themselves and their families.

The capacity building program tagged “Catalyst for Change” will be implemented by Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation across five communities in Lagos state and will directly impact the lives of 5000 women across Iwaya, Oworonshoki, Sangotedo, Magboro and Ogijo communities with 1000 of these women receiving funding and support to set up their small-scale enterprises.

Business training modules to be delivered by experienced facilitators will focus on personal & product branding, business foundations and basic accounting while artisanry trainings will cover courses in wig making, make-up, fashion and designing, household essentials, shoe making, amongst others, over the course of a five-month period with the program kicking off this August.

Other partners providing support to the program include The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

Speaking on this program, Bukola Bamiduro, founder of Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, expressed her gratitude for the grant.

She said, “Poverty is the greatest threat to our existence as it fuels crime, despair and vices.

“The impact of COVID-19 has further escalated poverty in Nigeria and so we are delighted with this partnership and the execution of the program as these women will become catalysts in their communities, pulling their families out of poverty”.

Also commenting on the program, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, manager, public affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, remarked, “This is yet another way through which our Company is passionately contributing to the recovery of our economy following this devastating pandemic.

“Our desire is to continue to economically uplift as many women as possible in Nigeria as we recognise their critical roles in society.

“We are confident that this new partnership will go a long way in supporting women and providing them a means of livelihood through the recovery phase”.

Representing the First lady of Lagos State, Her Excellency Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Wife of the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mrs. Olabisi Onigbanjo, said,  “It is particularly reassuring that this empowerment initiative is coming at a time the country is contending with the severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Through this initiative, 5,000 women across five communities will be empowered with business and life skills needed to escape from extreme poverty. When you empower women, you empower the whole family and by extension the nation.” 

Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation is a non-profit established in 2017, with a vision to empower women and girls across the rural demographic.

The award of this grant will help in achieving the shared objective of The Coca-Cola Foundation to grow a sustainable pipeline of female talent and empower women, ultimately creating a sustainable society.

Through its ambitious goal of empowering 5 million women across the world by 2020 under its 5by20 initiative, The Coca-Cola Company has so far empowered 4.6 million women with over 420,000 Nigerian women directly impacted.

The Company through its philanthropic arm, The Coca-Cola Foundation, has contributed more than $1 billion over the past 36 years to help protect the environment, promote recycling, empower women and enhance communities around the world.