International Breweries’ kickstart initiative trains over 500 young entrepreneurs, in partnership with Enterprise Development Centre

UGO AMADI

Over 500 young entrepreneurs, who have been shortlisted, are currently attending the 2021 edition of the Kickstart Entrepreneurship Programme’s training. The training organised by International Breweries Plc. (IBPLC), a proud part of AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer through its International Breweries Foundation is part of efforts to empower young business owners between 18 and 35 years old. The training, which is being implemented in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University, will support the federal government’s employment agenda.

With over 6,000 applications received from the six geopolitical zones of the country, it’s safe to conclude that a growing number of youths in Nigeria are embracing entrepreneurship and taking advantage of the opportunity the Kickstart Entrepreneurship Programme provides.

The painstaking and merit-oriented 2021 selection process considered the following criteria: sustainability of the business, innovativeness, shared value, impact on community and experience. The Shortlist also drew about 100 beneficiaries from IBPLC’s host communities, across the various locations where its Plants are located.

The entrepreneurs’ businesses are directly aligned with International Breweries 2025 Sustainability Goals, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) as well as its business focus areas spanning Agriculture, Circular Packaging, Technology, Retailing, Water Stewardship as well as Renewable Energy.

In her comments, Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, International Breweries PLC, Temitope Oguntokun noted that the lucky entrepreneurs will undergo rigorous training sessions on the minimum requirements needed to run a successful business.

According to Oguntokun, “This is the first time we’re having an online training and reaching a critical mass. COVID-19 has made us more innovative in our approach; hence we’re leveraging the technology available to us to increase the pool of applicants to the over 500 shortlisted candidates, who will attend the training.”

She also expressed the desire of International Breweries Plc to expand the opportunity the 2021 Kickstart offers to more young people to grow their businesses. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s current unemployment rate rose to 33.3% in the last quarter of 2020, thereby signifying the need for urgent intervention. “In line with our vision of ‘Bringing People Together for a Better World’, we are poised to continue to support the government by impacting the lives of more young people, and by extension, their communities and Nigeria as a whole through the tripartite strategies of training, award of grants, and mentorship to effectively address the challenge of unemployment and poverty while driving economic growth,” Oguntokun added.

According to Peter Bamkole, Director, Enterprise Development Centre, “Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University is excited to partner with International Breweries Foundation on the 2021 Kickstart Nigeria Entrepreneurship Training. The participants of the program are expected to gain skills and knowledge in business management areas including Customer Service, Marketing Management, Business Plan writing etc. We are confident that this will help them navigate the entrepreneurial journey.”

The next phase of the Programme is an intensive bootcamp session where 100 people who have been successful in the online training will be taught presentation skills, business proposal writing in preparation for the Pitchfest, where they will face a panel of judges who will decide on the final awardees for the 2021 Kickstart Entrepreneurship Programme.

Over the last five years, Kickstart has invested over N325 million in the social investment scheme, recording 274 grantees, 708 direct beneficiaries and 2,832 indirect beneficiaries, and generating 571 new jobs in the process.

International Breweries Plc (IBPLC) is a proud part of the world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewer with over 400 beer brands.

In Nigeria, IBPLC is the proud producer of Trophy, Hero, and Budweiser beer brands, including Beta Malt & Grand Malt.

International Breweries was established in 1971 and was listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1995. The company, AB InBev consolidated its business stakes in Pabod Breweries Limited, Intafact Beverages Limited into its majority ownership of International Breweries Plc in a merger that was concluded in December 2017.

As a global brand, International Breweries has a dream of bringing people together for a better world through the building of great brands that stand the test of time and brewing the best beers using the finest natural ingredients.