Goldberg Lager beer, a brand of Nigerian Breweries Plc, on Thursday launched the much anticipated Isedowo Youth Empowerment Scheme at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II amid fanfare.

The event brought together other prominent Obas and chiefs from the Southwest as his Majesty Oba Ogunwusi commended Nigerian Breweries for the initiative which he said is a bold step at improving the lot of small scale entrepreneurs in the South West region.

“On behalf of my brothers from the seven Yoruba speaking states, I thank Goldberg Lager beer and Nigerian Breweries for this community partnership with the Yoruba people. By leading the way to support the businesses and entrepreneurial potential of artisans in the Southwest, you have challenged other corporate bodies to give back to the society where they operate,” the monarch declared.

Ogunwusi further called on all Yoruba youths who are skilled in trade to take the opportunity to showcase their business potential and be rewarded.

The Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Franco Maria Maggi declared during the occasion that Goldberg was honoured to identify with the King through Isedowo. He added that the empowerment initiative presented a mutually benefitting union between His Majesty, who is the custodian of the Yoruba culture, and Goldberg, a brand that not only respects the values and traditions of the Yoruba people but also seeks to empower the young men and women in the region.

“We believe that as the custodian of the Yoruba culture, your blessings will rub off positively on Isedowo. It will set it on a path of achieving the objectives of positively transforming the lives of its beneficiaries with spill over effects on the larger economy by way of increased job creation and income,” Maggi said.

The occasion also witnessed the rewarding of the first set of entrepreneurs who were selected as the best in Osun State.

Adeola Olajide, an auto mechanic from Abeokuta, Ogun State who resides and works in Ile Ife, Osun State, emerged as one of the beneficiaries and was rewarded during the occasion. He expressed his gratitude to Goldberg for the support, adding that the initiative was a welcome development.

“When I heard the news on radio, I realised this is one of a kind in this part of the country, and I decided to grab the opportunity. I am very happy to have emerged a winner today and with my reward, I intend to buy equipment that would bring about ease in my business,” he said

Interested participants who wish to benefit from the empowerment scheme are required to showcase their business ideas and how it impacts on the society at any of the Isedowo centres around the Southwest region. There will be a screening of these participants and their business ideas across the region after which the top 100 participants will be rewarded with a grant of ₦300,000 each, totalling ₦30million for all participants to support their businesses.

Goldberg is known across the Southwest region as a leading supporter of culture and tradition and through Isedowo, it has become the brand that shares in the economic aspirations of the people.

See pictures from the event

His Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II (middle) flanked by other traditional rulers from the Southwest region and staff of Nigerian Breweries Plc at the unveiling of Goldberg’s Isedowo, a youth empowerment initiative at the Ooni’s palace in Ile Ife, Osun State.

L-R: Franco Maria Maggi, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc; His Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II and Emmanuel Agu, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, during the flag off of Goldberg’s Isedowo, a youth empowerment initiative, at the Ooni’s palace in Ile Ife, Osun State.

L-R: The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II; Adeola Olajide, an auto mechanic and beneficiary of Isedowo’s ₦300,000 business grant; Franco Maria Maggi, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc at the unveiling of Goldberg’s Isedowo, a youth empowerment initiative, at the Ooni’s palace in Ile Ife, Osun State.