The Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, disclosed that the company has invested N3bn in the upgrading of facilities at its Awo-Omamma Brewery, less than a year after it merged with Consolidated Breweries.

Mr. Vervelde disclosed this at the commissioning of a block of six classrooms and a library built and donated by Nigerian Breweries Plc to Ubachima Primary School, Awo-Omamma, Imo State.

He added that work with upgrading of Awo-Omamma Brewery has gone from a one unit production line facility, to multiple line facility, where the company now produces seven different products.

The company further disclosed that it had invested N18bn in the expansion of the Aba Brewery in 2014.

Mr. Vervelde was represented at the commissioning by Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Advisor, Nigerian Breweries Plc, who stated that the block of six classrooms and a library was built under the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Educational Trust Fund in support of the effort of Imo State Government to enhance the standard of education in the state.

Mr. Vervelde, in his statement, commended the positive efforts of the Imo State Government in revitalizing the educational system in the state, highlighting that the government alone cannot do it, hence the firm is pitching in.

The Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund was established in 1994 to play an active role in funding education research development as well as encourage academic excellence in Nigeria.

According to Vervelde, “There is no gain saying the fact that education remains the greatest legacy to be bequeathed to any child and key to sustainable development of our country. As our contribution to this, Nigerian Breweries continues to invest towards the improvement of various aspects of education around the country.

“In line with our philosophy of winning with Nigeria, our company has over the years been active in supporting Nigeria’s national development aspirations. This is exemplified by our continuous identification and response to major challenges confronting the Nigeria nation through social investments, especially in the areas of education, “he affirmed.

He urged the community, teachers and pupils of the school to protect the investment for sustainable use.