As a mark of support for youth empowerment and development, non-alcoholic beverage giant, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, NBC, in partnership with RISE Networks, Nigeria’s leading social enterprise, to celebrate Nigerian youths as they join the rest of the world to celebrate 2018 United Nations International Youth Day held in Lagos recently.
The event tagged: Mega Youth Conference, organised in collaboration with Lagos State Government, was well attended by senior government officials, notable speakers and a large number of youths that include Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Lagos State, Mr. Agboola Dabiri, Founder of Keresku Farms, Mr. Rotimi Williams, Founder of Flying Doctors, Dr. Ola Brown and Chief Executive Officer, Enyo Retail and Supply, Abayomi Awobokun, among others.
Speaking at the conference with the theme: Safe Spaces For Youth, the Managing Director of Nigerian Bottling Company, Mr. George Polymenakos who was represented by Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Mrs. Sade Morgan explained that the partnership with Rise Networks in the celebration of the 2018 International Youth Day is an affirmation of the company’s unflinching commitment to youth empowerment.
In her welcome remarks, convener of the conference and founder of Rise Networks, Mrs. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji remarked that the youths cannot afford to fold their arms in the face of limitless opportunities around, urging them to get involved politically and invest their energy in productive causes that would bring about economic empowerment.
In his own remarks, the Secretary to the State Government who represented the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Tunji Bello affirmed that there cannot be meaningful development if government fails to invest in its youth.
Bello explained that the partnership support extended to the conference and other beneficial initiatives underlies the commitment of Lagos State to empower the youth and grow the economy of the state such that jobs would be created and criminal activities become reduced in the state.