By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Projects worth millions of Naira were recently handed over to some communities in Ogun, Osun and Oyo States by International Breweries Plc, a member of the world’s largest brewer, ABInBev.
During the commissioning of the projects, Legal and Corporate Affairs Director of International Breweries, Mr Michael Daramola, said the aim of the donations was to positively impact communities and improve their overall wellbeing
The projects were provided for by the brewery giant under its corporate social investment initiatives (CSI) and were completed in the last quarter of 2018.
They were part of the company’s strategic policy of impacting the communities where it operates, especially in the areas where basic amenities are either lacking or inadequate. The projects included solar-powered boreholes, an adequately equipped primary healthcare centre and a sanitary facility.
A newly renovated primary health centre was donated to Esa-Odo community in Osun state along with critical equipment including weighing scales wheelchairs, mattresses, a generator, among other hospital equipment, to facilitate the efficient running of the facility. Ilase-Ijesha community in Ilesha Osun State; Obafemi-Owode and Orile-Imo Logbara communities in Sagamu, Ogun State; and Christian Mission School for the Deaf in Onireke, Ibadan, Oyo state, each received a solar-powered borehole. Omi-Asoro Elementary Primary School, also in Osun State, received a newly built sanitary facility.
“We are here to hand over completed projects as promised. At International Breweries, we strive to impact every community where we operate and make it better than we met it.
“As a result, our projects are designed to be beneficial to the whole community and this is the essence of our give-back policy as encapsulated in our CleanerWorld and BetterWorld programmes, comprising water, health, culture and economic empowerment,” Mr Daramola said at the event.
“We are glad we are able to play our own little role as a business, and hope it will make a difference in the lives of the people, especially women, children and the vulnerable in the society,” he added.
In their remarks, the royal fathers present commended International Breweries for providing the facilities and always responding positively whenever it was called upon by the people.
They urged the organisation not to relent in supporting the efforts of the government in providing basic amenities for those at the grassroots and promised to continue to maintain peaceful and cordial relationships with the organisation.
Speaking on behalf of Obokun East Local Community Development Area, Osun State, the chairman, Mr Omole Ishola, said: “It has always been the government’s plan to equip every health centre and hospital, as well as provide drugs for patients in the state but the plan has always been hampered by lack of funds.
“The intervention of International Breweries, especially as it caters for pregnant women, is a welcome development. We are indeed grateful.”
At the Obafemi Owode Primary Health Centre, Director of Investment, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ogun State, Mr Adedayo Somoye what International Breweries had done for the community was very commendable noting that the company has operated in Ogun State for less than a year.
“I enjoin the community to protect this project for the good of everyone. We should also allow International Breweries to grow and make profit before they are bombarded with requests,” Mr Somoye continued. He encouraged a cordial relationship between the community and the brewer.
International Breweries, through its CleanerWord and BetterWorld programmes, has been touching lives in communities across the country and these newly commissioned projects mark the beginning of its 2019 corporate social investment drive, according to the brewer.
