Nigerian Bottling Company Hosts Special Edition Of #YouthEmpowered Programme, Inspiring Young Leaders

The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), a member of Coca-Cola HBC (CCHBC) and the autho­rized bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company in Nigeria, recently hosted a special edition of its flagship #YouthEmpow­ered program in Lagos.

The event provided young Nigerians with an exclusive opportunity to engage with top executives from Coca-Cola HBC and The Coca-Cola Company, gaining invaluable leadership insights to shape their careers.

With the theme “Shaping the Future: It is Possible! A Dialogue with Young Leaders,” the event seamlessly aligned with the Co­ca-Cola system’s sustainability agenda of empowering people and communities.

A key highlight was an engaging discussion session, moderated by Adenike Ad­eyemi, CEO of Fate Foundation, featuring insights from global business leaders, including Zoran Bogdanovic, CEO of Co­ca-Cola HBC, and Luisa Ortega, President of Coca-Cola Africa Operating Unit.

The panel also included senior executives from NBC, including Jolomi Fawehinmi, People & Culture Director, and Dayo Adefulu, Trade Marketing Director, alongside two inspiring #YouthEmpowered alumni: Chinenye Adeleye, Founder of Volunteers Hub Africa, and Afeez Iyiola, Founder of Coach­frika.

Oluwasoromidayo George, Corporate Affairs and Sustain­ability Director at NBC, while speaking at the event, empha­sised the importance of adapt­ability, resilience, and a proactive mindset in today’s fast-evolving world.

“In this era of AI and digi­tal transformation, the world is evolving faster than ever. To thrive, young people must be adaptable, curious, and embrace challenges as opportunities. By cultivating a ‘can-do’ spirit and leveraging the skills gained to­day, they can confidently shape their future.”

She further highlighted that the #YouthEmpowered pro­gram is designed to equip young people between the ages of 16 and 35 with essential life skills to succeed in the corporate world or as entrepreneurs. As part of the initiative, 11 outstanding participants recently secured internships at NBC, with three receiving their internship letters directly from Goran Sladic, Man­aging Director of NBC, during the event.