Cadbury Nigeria Plc on Thursday announced the launch of a healthy lifestyle programme aimed at bringing nutrition education, active play and fresh foods to at-risk children and their families in Nigeria.

The firm said it was joining nine other countries in the Mondelez International family in this initiative, which would involve $50m a-year commitment to promote healthy lifestyles and address obesity.

In a statement, the company’s Managing Director, Cadbury West Africa, Mr. Amir Shamsi, said that this was the first-ever Mondelez International Foundation-funded effort in Nigeria, adding that the programme, which would run for over three years, was targeted at nearly 6,000 children and families in nine schools.

“It will operate in Cadbury Nigeria (Ikeja and Ondo) and focus on nutrition, physical activity and gardening through in-school and after-school activities,” he stated.

Shamsi further said the foundation would collaborate with Helen Keller International to drive the initiative.

The President of the Mondelēz International Foundation, Sarah Delea, was quoted as saying, “Making a positive impact on the people and the planet is at the core of who we are. Since 2012, our partners and their programmes have been transforming the lives of more than a million children around the globe by increasing their nutrition knowledge, physical activity and access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The addition of seven new programmes further builds on our commitment to help communities thrive and improve the well-being of school-age children and their families.”