The Anambra State Government has expressed its gratitude to Onitsha-based Intafact Beverages Limited, a subsidiary of SABMiller, the world’s number two beer company by volume and sales, for establishing the SABMiller Hero’s Foundation Kickstart Programme.

Speaking at the official kick-off of the programme, the Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Entrepreneurship and Sports Development, Mr. Tony Nnachetta reiterated the state government’s readiness to partner with Intafact Beverages in meeting the programme’s objectives.

Welcoming guests at the launch, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, SABMiller Hero’s Foundation, His Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, The Obi of Onitsha, noted that the Hero’s Foundation Kickstart Programme offers strong prospects for new ideas and job creation in the country, which is in dire need of multiple investments, in view of the country’s dwindling fortune from oil.

His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe Obi of Onitsha delivering the welcome address at the formal launch of the SABMiller Hero’s Foundation

His Majesty added that the Kickstart programme, is aimed at developing and creating a local culture of entrepreneurship among the youths in the South East, by encouraging and promoting business skills, managerial awareness and material support, through training programmes, mentorship and grants for start-up capital or expansion seed funding.

Local youth with bright business ideas will have an opportunity to turn this ideas into reality which will in turn, help reduce unemployment.

Expanding on the objectives of the programme, the Obi said, that SABMiller is focused on bringing fresh ideas and social upward mobility to millions of people all over the world who enjoy its drinks and beverages; noting that the company strives to improve the livelihoods of the communities in which it operates.

“We know that many of the communities where we work face serious challenges in their environments and societies, which we share with them. We know that when local communities prosper, so do we. The SABMiller Hero’s Foundation Kickstart Programme is Intafact Beverage’s Corporate Social Initiative (CSI), and part of its ongoing commitment towards poverty alleviation and sustainable enterprise development in its areas of operation”, he added.

Members of Board of Trustees of SABMiller Hero’s Foundation L-R: Yolande Chirwa, Otumba Michael Daramola, Chairman of the board of Trustees, Obi of Onitsha – His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe,Prof. Stella Okunna, Mr. Chike Onyejekwe and Mr. Lukas Van-Deventer at the formal launch of SABMiller Hero’s Foundation Kickstart programme at The Dolly Hills Hotel, Onitsha, Anambra state recently

Otunba Michael Daramola, Country Corporate Affairs and Strategy Director for SABMiller, and Trustee, SABMiller Hero’s Foundation, added that the programme was initially launched in South Africa in 1995, as a poverty alleviation scheme. Since then, it has evolved into an ideas competition platform to help develop sustainable youth-owned enterprises that will have a high impact in their local communities.

Otumba Daramola added that the programme is currently being run in several African countries where SABMiller operates, including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Tanzania and Western Nigeria.

“Kickstart was launched in Nigeria in August 2015 by International Breweries Plc, Ilesha. Today marks the launch of Kickstart at Intafact Beverages Limited, Onitsha. It is anticipated that the programme will soon commence at Pabod Breweries Limited, Port Harcourt,” he said.

Daramola stated that the programme was developed from two operating perspectives; economic and business development. He noted that from a development standpoint, ”Kickstart” helps create and support successful businesses in local communities, creating sustainable jobs and providing role models to inspire others.

And from a business perspective, the programme enables SABMiller, and by extension, Intafact to deliver on its sustainable development objectives by helping to nurture more prosperous and healthy communities.