Coca-Cola Nigeria says its investment through construction and rehabilitation of education facility would deepen capacity and contribute to the growth of future generation of Nigeria youths.
Bhupendra Suri, managing director, Coca-Cola Nigeria said beyond infrastructural development, The Coca-Cola Foundation also facilitates a capacity building training for teachers to deploy literacy enhancement programmes targeted at the upper primary section of the school.
Suri who was represented by Osita Abana, sustainability manager, Coca-Cola West Africa Business Unit, stated this while speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony at First Baptist Primary School, Ijaye-Oja Ale, Ilogbo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Abana said the project is part of the Coca-Cola Foundation/UNDP New World Programme in collaboration with Ogun State Government aimed at providing critical infrastructural development in the school,
According to him, “The project was funded by Coca-Cola Foundation and implemented by the Youth Empowerment Foundation would be completed within a duration of six months”.
Abana explained that the scope of the project would cover the construction of a block of five classrooms, six units of functional gender segregated toilet with water and sanitation facilities; construction of a functional playground; rehabilitation of two units of toilets; and rehabilitation of two units of classrooms.
“Representing Ogun State at the ceremony, Modupe Mujota, commissioner for education, science and technology for Ogun State, stated that the project would go a long way in improving the quality of education offered to the pupils of the school while also impacting the community positively.
Mujota commended Coca-Cola Nigeria and The Coca-Cola Foundation for supporting the efforts of the state government in providing a conducive learning environment in schools through the school rehabilitation project.
In his own remarks, , Olatunji Okewole, chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, described the partnership between the board and Coca-Cola Nigeria as a welcome development in terms of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in bridging infrastructure gap in schools.
He thanked Coca-Cola Nigeria for the gesture and urged other corporate organisations to emulate the company by supporting the government in providing adequate infrastructure in schools in the state.
The project when completed would provide improved water supply not only to the school but also to the entire Ijaye Oja-Ale Ilogbo Community.
KELECHI EWUZIE
