Nigeria: Nigerian Breweries makes donations

Nigerian Breweries Plc has provided a grant of N3 million to the Faculty of Administration of Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife, Osun State, as part of its commitment to educational development in the country, Leaders & Company posted on July 21. The money, which was meant for the rehabilitation of the institution’s dilapidated structure, was provided following a request for assistance from the authorities of the faculty.

The funds, according to the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Kayode Soremekun, would be spent on carpentry, plumbing, electrical repairs and repainting of the faculty’s building. “The money will also be used to set up a resource centre comprising an internet room and a common room,” he said. "The grant," he added, "is a positive act of corporate philanthropy which speaks to the fact that beyond being in business for the obvious sake of making profits, Nigerian Breweries Plc is very sensitive to the Nigerian society,” he said.

He said the gesture of the company was even more remarkable as "none of the top shots of the company has children in the faculty." "What they’ve done is to give back to the society," he said, noting that "the company has taken it upon itself to humanise the learning environment for generations of students in our faculty and Obafemi Awolowo University in general."

The university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Roger Makanjuola, in a letter to the company, said the school was delighted at the intervention. “As you probably know, the university is currently engaged in a project to raise funds for the renovation of all major buildings," he said. "We are truly delighted that your company is our very first donor." We added that the name of Nigerian Breweries will be the first on the roll of honour that the school is compiling on the project.

23 July, 2005