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| Beneficiaries of Goldberg’s Isedowo empowerment initiative in Ondo state |
Goldberg,
the leading culture centric beer brand from the stables of Nigerian Breweries
Plc, on Friday rewarded 28 entrepreneurs and small-scale business
owners operating in Ondo State with a total sum of ₦8.4million throughIsedowo,
its empowerment initiative.
The
28 beneficiaries received a business grant of ₦300,000 each after being
selected from a large pool of over 700 business entries received in the state.
The
winners comprise men and women operating in the catchment area who are skilled
in all forms of handiwork including poultry farming, tie and dye, hand weaving,
diesel injector repair, fashion designing and painting. Participants went
through auditions and screening exercises to be selected for the reward which
happened at a grand ceremony at Fadeolu Guest House in Ondo town.
Emmanuel
Agu, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands at Nigerian Breweries
Plc, explained that Goldberg is riding on the platform of Isedowo to
demonstrate its passion towards improving the entrepreneurial drive of youths
in the Southwest. The initiative allows the target groups to nurture business
ideas that would transform into job opportunities, and in turn better the lot
of the region.
“These
grants would encourage more businesses to spring up in the region. As we
fortify more start-ups with the financial wherewithal to gain solid ground of
operations, the beneficiaries would improve the living standards of the Southwest
people by creating more jobs and adding value to their communities,” he
explained.
One
of the beneficiaries, Balogun Wuraola, could not hold her excitement on the
night. She said that as a new business owner, her grant would be invested
to expand her business. “With my ₦300,000, I plan to acquire enlargement and
thread rolling machines, which are important tools in my business. I also need
a bigger space to exhibit my products, which my grant would enable me to
achieve,” she said.
Akindeni
Kolawole, a diesel injector repairer, described Goldberg as a “supportive
brand” for coming to the aid of small business owners in the region. “If as
little as 30 percent of all brands in Nigeria can emulate Goldberg by
supporting indigenous business owners in different regions, more youths would
be encouraged to run their own businesses,” Kolawole said.
He
further commended Goldberg for making entrepreneurs in the region to realise
that truly, there is dignity in labour. Kolawole also enjoined all the beneficiaries
to utilise their grant with all sense of purpose as he would, so as to better
the lot of his community through the service he renders.
Later
in the evening, residents of Ondo town trooped to the same venue to
witness the side attractions that came with the reward of the entrepreneurs.
The host, Odunlade Adekola thrilled the crowd with his comic acts. Onimama
Fahoziat, 2017 Ariya Repete ‘Fuji’ winner, also thrilled the crowd,
while popular afro-pop musician, Iledare Oluwajuwonlo, known by his stage name
of Jaywon, added spice to the night of fun with his popular hits,
which got the audience soaring in euphoric excitement into the late hours of
the night.
Some
lucky guests at the event also went home with bags of rice, kegs of vegetable
oil and other items as they savoured the entertainment with their favourite
beer, Goldberg lager beer.
Before
the Ondo event, 32 artisans had been rewarded in Osun and Ekiti states where
the beneficiaries affirmed that the initiative is laudable and has
provided them huge relief from financial challenges faced in expanding their
businesses.
Isedowo is
an initiative of Goldberg, which was launched last August by the Ooni of Ife,
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II with the aim of empowering businesses and
start-ups with cash reward to boost their business ventures.
So
far, 60 artisans have been rewarded in three Southwest states and Goldberg
plans to support 40 more entrepreneurs with each winner receiving ₦300,000
through the empowerment scheme.
Ogun
and Oyo States are next in line to be stormed by the brand to select and reward
new set of entrepreneurs.
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