NBC Reaffirms Commitment to Women Empowerment

Ugo Aliogo

In commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, has unveiled an inspiring and powerful short documentary spotlighting the empowered voices of women within its value chain.

In a statement, it was noted that the event aligned with the United Nations’ theme for the year: “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress,” noting that the video vividly captures the success stories of some of the female distributors who have been integral to NBC’s illustrious history spanning over seven decades in Nigeria.

The statement also noted that it tells the story of growth and empowerment of not just these women, but also of the profound impact on their families and communities.

The statement further explained that the documentary features five female depot owners who share their perspectives on how NBC has empowered them, highlighting the transformative power of opportunity, challenges, and resilience.

The statement noted that as the video unfolds, it becomes obvious that NBC’s impact extends far beyond its products – showcasing how investing in one woman is almost commensurate to transforming the lives of many.

Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, at NBC, Oluwasoromidayo George, commented on the documentary and the company’s ongoing efforts.

“Empowering women is fundamental for any society’s advancement. By doing this, we open doors to greater economic diversification, productivity, and income equality. However, it’s not just about the economics. Equipping women and girls with life skills is critical for their well-being. While it fosters resilience, and creates access to social protection, it is ultimately about shaping a better future.”

“As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are happy to reiterate our commitment to the prosperity of the Nigerian woman. In the documentary, the significance of women for our future growth is apparent and for the most part is central to our strategic direction as an organisation,” She added.

The statement remarked that: “In the spirit of women’s month, NBC shared details of impactful initiatives for women, including the 5by20 initiative aimed at providing women with opportunities to kickstart and manage their businesses through the linkage to its distribution system; partnership with the Lady Mechanic Initiative to empower vulnerable young women with vocational, entrepreneurial and life skills, to become certified professional automobile mechanics; partnership with the Lagos State Government Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) to train thousands of women on financial literacy and communications skills; the Safe Birth Initiative in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health to address maternal mortality in Nigeria by infrastructure development, equipment donations and manpower training.”

The statement revealed that the initiative has impacted over 12,000 mothers and babies: 51,600 families and individuals as well as 500 health workers across 16 states of the federation and the FCT.

The statement hinted that beyond these initiatives, NBC has implemented practices ensuring 50:50 gender parity across tiers in its business, adding that over 40 percent of Senior executive roles within NBC are held by women in line with its commitment to foster a more inclusive work environment.