News
Coca-Cola Celebrates World Environment Day As Employee Action Becomes Community Passion
The World Environment Day is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
Over the years, the celebration marked every year on June 5th, has come to serve as a global platform for public outreach and deep reflection focused on the challenges of the environment, growing annually with participation from over 143 countries.
The Coca-Cola System, on its part, has committed to reduce waste by helping to collect the same amount of packaging it sells for reuse, help communities identify and better understand their existing recycling and collection challenges; and motivate consumers to recycle their packages.
In line with this vision, employees of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited decided to lead by example by collecting used plastic/PET bottles on a weekly basis from their homes and neighborhoods, depositing same to a designated collection center created at the company’s official car parking lot, from where program partners, RecyclePoint, would evacuate for onward processing.
The modest initiative began with just a few bottles and cans collected monthly, but then began to gain traction as associate volunteers from the CokeCARES team began to drive active collection and participation in the initiative.
This drew the attention of onlookers and community bystanders who curiously enquired to know more about the plastic collections and recycling activities.
This provided an opportunity for proper but timely education on the importance of the careful management and responsible disposal of post-consumer waste, especially PET.
That was the turning point. from this, the Ikoyi neighborhood of Gerrard road, where the Coca-Cola Nigeria office is situated has seen an increased participation from female street sweepers, Janitors and residents who keyed into the World Without Waste Initiative leading to increased recovery of plastic bottles and other recyclables within the neighborhood.
Leading this year’s collection drive, Mrs Abidemi Salau, a widowed mother of three, has since January, single handedly collected over 1 ton of PET bottles and other recyclables. In her words she said, “I am happy that the small proceeds I get from this supports me and my family and this is my little way of contributing to a cleaner environment”.
To mark this year’s World Environment Day, Coca-Cola Nigeria under the auspices of its associate volunteer program, CokeCARES, decided to celebrate and encourage Mrs Abidemi’s efforts, as well as other community members who had dedicated themselves to the daily collection and drop-off of PET bottles from the neighborhood, with a session comprising short but informative remarks on the need to preserve the environment and the Coca-Cola World Without Waste vision.
The informal collectors who received food packs, shopping vouchers, and delicious beverages, expressed delight at the gesture and committed to continuous collection of these PET bottles.
Mazi Uzonu, founder of Recycle Point – partners of Coca-Cola in this recycling endeavour, expressed his cautious optimism for the future of recycling, while also pointing out our collective roles.
“Plastic waste poses a threat to the environment and if properly recycled, we can make the most of these recyclables and improve our environment.” he said.
In her closing remarks, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Manager for Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, expressed gratitude to these unsung heroes and reflected on the journey to a more sustainable world.
“On days like this, it’s important to not only reflect on the decadence of our environment but to be reminded of the responsibility that we all have in making the world cleaner, safer and more sustainable”, she remarked.
So far, a total of 8,474kg of recyclables have been collected from the immediate environment and repurposed for other uses.
New Horizons Nigeria has launched a N50 million initiative aimed at transforming 21 Almajiri children into skilled computer technicians within 90 days, to tackle youth unemployment and harness human potential.
The Almajiri-to-Tech programme, officially launched in Abuja on Monday, provides participants with full training, meals, clothing, tools, and logistics support, all fully funded.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of New Horizons, Tim Akano, said the programme represents a new journey in the history of Nigeria by restoring the original purpose of the Almajiri system, which he described as “children sent out to seek knowledge.”
“The word Almajiri comes from an Arabic term meaning emigrant and seeker of knowledge. Historically, children were sent to learn morals, responsibility, and skills to add value to society,” Akano said.
He added that the disruption of this system during colonial times forced many children onto the streets, a challenge that persists today.
Akano highlighted the urgency of addressing the Almajiri issue, noting that there are an estimated 15 million Almajiris in the country, with a population growth rate of around three per cent annually.
“If we do not solve this problem as a country, we are sitting on a time bomb,” he warned.
According to him, the programme focuses on hands-on technical skills rather than theory. Trainees will learn to repair mobile phones, laptops, televisions, radios, standing fans, and other electronic devices, as well as build inverter batteries using recycled electronic waste.
“We are not teaching theory. We are teaching practical skills you can use to earn a living,” Akano said, stressing that the programme will not interfere with the participants’ Quranic education.
“We are still going to allow you, within the period of learning. Your learning computer here is not stopping your Quranic education.
“You still have time within our space here. Whenever you want to go and pray, you can pray, then come back to class,” the CEO stressed.
He added that participants will also receive daily meals, water, T-shirts identifying them as technicians-in-training, and access to all necessary tools and equipment throughout the 90-day programme.
Akano said the initiative is part of a larger mission by New Horizons Nigeria, which has spent the past 21 years training about 100,000 Nigerians annually in IT and related skills.
He said the new programme aims to “take human genius off the streets and convert it into human capital, enabling these youths to contribute meaningfully to the economy.”
He added that equipping Almajiris with skills could add 15 million people to Nigeria’s workforce and potentially increase the country’s GDP by as much as $20 billion, stressing that productivity depends on practical skills and opportunity.
“Everything that can be taught can be learned. If someone can memorize the Quran cover to cover, there is nothing that cannot be done. What they lack is information, opportunity, and infrastructure, and we are providing all of that,” Akano said.
Akano also stressed that the initiative is designed to inspire other organizations and government agencies to replicate similar programmes across the country.
“This is not just about 21 children; it is about showing Nigeria what is possible when resources meet intention and planning.
“If we succeed in empowering these Almajiris, we demonstrate that the country can turn social challenges into economic opportunities. It’s a blueprint for Nigeria’s future,” he said, noting that the initiative combines social reform, technical education, and economic empowerment.
Also speaking, one of the trainees, Fatima Umar, appreciated the organisers and promised to maximise the opportunity.
“We’ll make you proud of us. We have nothing to say here but to thank and appreciate you. May Almighty Allah continue to guide and protect you,” Umar said.
International Monetary Fund has upgraded Nigeria’s 2026 economic growth projection to 4.4 per cent, reflecting improved macroeconomic stability and sustained reforms.
IMF
The January 2026 World Economic Outlook Update forecasts Nigeria’s growth trajectory at 4.1 per cent in 2024, 4.2 per cent in 2025, and 4.4 per cent in 2026—a 0.2 percentage point increase from the October 2025 estimate.
This aligns with sub-Saharan Africa’s projected 4.6 per cent expansion in 2026 and 2027, driven by regional stabilisation efforts.
Globally, the IMF anticipates 3.3 per cent growth amid resilient conditions tempered by trade policy shifts and technology investments. For Nigeria, declining energy prices—expected to fall seven per cent due to weak demand—pose risks, though OPEC+ coordination and China’s stockpiling provide support.
Despite the optimism, downside risks persist from Middle East and Ukraine tensions, protectionism, high debt, and fiscal deficits. The Fund recommends rebuilding fiscal buffers, ensuring central bank independence, and limiting temporary fiscal measures to maintain stability.
Nigeria’s success hinges on consistent reforms and resilience against domestic and global shocks, the IMF concluded.
Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reports that Nigeria’s crude oil production, excluding condensate, dropped by 0.7 per cent to 1.486 million barrels per day (mbpd) in November 2025 from 1.496 mbpd in October.
OPEC
The figure, drawn from secondary sources in OPEC’s December 2025 Monthly Oil Market Report, fell short of Nigeria’s 1.5 mbpd quota. Direct communication data showed output at 1.436 mbpd, up from October’s 1.401 mbpd, but still below target.
Nigeria produces around 196,028 bpd of condensate, excluded from quota calculations per Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission figures. Year-on-year, November’s output marked a slight gain over 1.417 mbpd in November 2024.
Expert Cites Insecurity, Governance Gaps
Petroleum economics expert Wumi Iledare described the quota miss as unsurprising, blaming persistent insecurity, an ageing oil basin lacking new finds, and unoffered hydrocarbon blocks. Governance shortcomings and policy uncertainty further erode investor confidence, he noted.
Selective implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act worsens the situation, with Nigeria needing a single authoritative leader for the sector rather than multiple proxies, Mr Iledare stressed. The country has struggled to consistently hit OPEC targets for years.
NGX Gives Securties Firm 10 Days to Resolve Theft, Forgery Allegations
KongaPay K-Save Users Save over N3.2Bn
NCC Gives Amazon’s Kuiper, BeetleSat Nod to Provide Satellite Broadband Services in Nigeria
Cybersecurity Firm Detects a Wave of Crypto Phishing Following BlockFi Bankruptcy
NCC Unveils Spectrum Roadmap to Power Nigeria’s $1tr Digital Economy
Banks quietly move to enforce new ₦50 transfer levy from Jan. 1
FIRS says NIN, CAC Numbers to Serve as Tax IDs from 2026
FIRS Declares NIN, CAC Numbers as Tax IDs from 2026
US Begins Partial Visa Ban on Nigerians January 1
Galaxy Backbone Tops FG’s Website Performance Ranking
E-Financial1 day agoHere Are Nigerian Banks That Have Secured Their Licences
Telecom1 day agoMTN CEO Toriola Hails Nigeria’s Telecom Transformation at MIPAD
E-Financial1 day agoZenith Bank Top Nigerian Bank Pick Ahead of GTCO, AccessCorp
News1 day agoICPC Charges Ozekhome with Forgery, Corruption Over London Property
E-Financial1 day agoNigeria Processed $92.1Bn Crypto Transactions in 12 Months — PwC
E-Financial1 day agoHow Crypto Criminals Stole $700m from People – often Using Age-Old Tricks
Telecom1 day agoLebara Launches Agent Registration Portal
E-Business1 day agoElon Musk Seeks $134Bn from OpenAI, Microsoft for ‘Wrongful Gains’