News
Coca-Cola provides Empowerment Training to 1000 Ogijo Women
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” has seen the graduation of another set of 1000 women from the third tranche of the programme organized in the Ogijo, Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The graduation ceremony which held on Friday November 6, 2020 at Nirvana Hotels and Suites in Ogijo community, marked a close to the four-week intensive skills acquisition training which had commenced in October.
Over the course of the four-week programme, 1000 women were trained in vocational skills like makeup artistry, shoemaking, dressmaking, textile design, baking, amongst others.
Upon graduation, 200 women who had proved exceptional were each provided with start-up kits to help kickstart their businesses.
The Catalyst for Change programme, originally launched in August 2020 in partnership with local NGO Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, is part of several strategic interventions across the country under Coca-Cola’s COVID-19 Relief Plan.
Under this intervention, the flagship programme was inaugurated, following the award of a grant to the NGO from The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), the company’s philanthropic arm. So far, a total of 2,600 women have been economically empowered.
In her opening remarks at the ceremony, Mrs. Bukola Bamiduro, founder of Karis and Eleos Foundation, commended the zeal and passion of the participants saying, “This programme was created to drive change in the lives of women through relevant skill-based trainings 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”.
Florence Bassey, a beneficiary from the program, expressed her gratitude to Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and to the NGO saying “We have been inspired to believe and understand that there is nothing we cannot achieve as women.
“I am confident that with what I have learnt, I can support my family through the difficulties brought about by the pandemic”.
Present at the graduation ceremony were key community representatives including the King of Ogijo, Oba Kazeem Kashimawo Olaonipekun Gbadamosi; the Chairman Nirvana Hotels and Suites, Mr. G.A Doghudhe; a representative of Iyaloja of Ogijoland, Mrs. Bolanle Lateef; and a Pastor of Mountain of Fire Ministries, Mr. Adegbuyi Victor-Banjo.
Speaking at the event, The King of Ogijo, Oba Kazeem Kashimawo Olaonipekun Gbadamosi, expressed his appreciation for the initiative and the support provided by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited.
He commended the company saying, “I cannot believe the impact and turnout from this event. Our women have been empowered and I look forward to what is to come”.
He assured all present that the palace will continue to monitor the progress of the beneficiaries for the next six months and will readily give further support to them.
According to Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd., the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about hardship and loss, but also selflessness, courage, countless acts of kindness, as well as an appreciation for the many things that might have been taken for granted.
As the world emerges into a new normal, the Catalyst for Change intervention will help create optimism and hope for these vulnerable women to better support their families.
The Catalyst for Change programme is crucial to bridging the apparent skill gap in order to achieve an inclusive and sustainable society for economic growth. This is a vital step towards building a better future, together.
Since 1984, the Coca-Cola Foundation has contributed more than $1 billion to help empower women, protect the environment and enhance communities, socially and economically around the world.
Ogba Ogbaga, an Abuja-based lawyer, has said that he has been instructed to institute legal proceedings against MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, 9mobile and MultiChoice Nigeria, operators of DStv, over what he described as unfair consumer practices relating to expiring data bundles and television subscriptions.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Ogbaga said his law firm, GIMBG Legals, received instructions from its client, KAA, also known as KaaTruths, to challenge the companies’ subscription policies in court.
According to him, the proposed suit will question whether telecom operators and DStv’s subscription models comply with provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and other applicable laws.
Ogbaga alleged that telecom providers operate internet data services that are unfair to consumers, claiming subscribers sometimes do not receive the services they paid for but still lose their subscriptions once the validity period expires.
He also criticised DStv’s subscription model, arguing that consumers lose paid viewing time due to factors such as power outages, adverse weather conditions and service interruptions, while subscriptions continue to count down regardless.
“Our clients have complained that MTN data services are unduly one-sided,” Ogbaga said, adding that the legal action would also extend to other telecommunications providers and DStv.
He said the court action would seek judicial determination on whether the companies’ subscription practices comply with consumer protection laws.
The lawyer also invited interested legal practitioners to collaborate on the case, saying his firm would provide updates as the matter progresses.
In a separate Facebook post on Wednesday, Ogbaga said previous policy discussions, town hall meetings and debates at the National Assembly had failed to address the concerns raised by consumers.
He argued that telecom operators regularly carry out maintenance and network upgrades that temporarily disrupt services without extending customers’ subscription periods, while DStv subscribers also lose viewing time because of electricity outages and weather-related disruptions.
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has commenced the issuance of new licence certificates to insurance companies that successfully met the industry’s new minimum capital requirements, marking the formal beginning of a new regulatory era aimed at strengthening the financial capacity, governance and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s insurance sector.
At a ceremony held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, presented the new licence certificates to compliant operators, describing the exercise as a major milestone in the industry’s recapitalisation programme.
According to the Commission, a total of 43 insurance companies declared compliant with the new capital requirements are expected to receive the new licence certificates in phases.
Omosehin congratulated the successful companies, saying the issuance of the new licences signals the beginning of a stronger regulatory framework anchored on improved capitalisation, sound corporate governance, innovation and sustainable growth.
He urged operators to leverage their enhanced capital base to develop innovative insurance products, improve operational efficiency and deepen insurance penetration across the country.
The Commissioner said the Commission expects the recapitalised companies to deliver stronger financial performance while maintaining high standards of professionalism and customer service.
He also announced that NAICOM’s next major regulatory initiative would be the implementation of the Risk-Based Capital (RBC) framework, under which insurers’ capital levels would be aligned with the risks inherent in their respective business portfolios.
According to him, the new framework will further strengthen the industry’s resilience by ensuring that insurers maintain capital commensurate with the risks they underwrite, thereby enhancing policyholder protection and boosting market confidence.
Omosehin reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to removing regulatory impediments where necessary while maintaining effective oversight to safeguard policyholders and strengthen confidence in the insurance market.
The issuance of the new licence certificates marks the commencement of a phased transition to higher capital standards aimed at improving the financial capacity, solvency and claims-paying ability of insurance companies operating in Nigeria.
Management of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek Media has withdrawn its publication titled “Adefolarin Ogunsanya and the Allegations of Shareholder Interference and Self-Dealing at Pan African Towers,” which was published on its platform.
The decision to retract the story follows an editorial review to ensure that the platform maintains the highest standards of accuracy, fairness and responsible journalism in reporting matters that are the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek acknowledges that the issues raised in the publication remain before the courts and have not been finally determined.
Accordingly, the organisation has decided to remove the article from its platforms pending the conclusion of the legal processes or the availability of additional verified information.
The publication regrets any inconvenience or misunderstanding the report may have caused to readers or any individuals or organisations mentioned in the story.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek remains committed to the principles of balanced, factual and ethical journalism and will continue to uphold professional standards in its coverage of judicial and corporate governance matters.
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