Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Some women have undergone baking training in Lagos sponsored by the flour milling subsidiary of Olam Agri, Crown Flour Mill Limited.
The beneficiaries, who were presented with the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination certificates on Friday, September 23, 2022, were chosen through the empowerment initiative of the flour mills tagged Crown Flour Angels (CFA).
The company explained that skills obtained by the women would offer them the opportunity to take up employment in the hospitality sector, even as a good number of them are expected to set up their baking outfits.
“We are committed to enriching the lives of the people across our operating market by providing nutritious, safe and affordable food for the population as well as enabling the actualisation of the fine aspirations of the individuals within the population by supporting the economic development agenda of the government.
“The Crown Flour Angels initiative is one of the valuable levers we are pulling continuously to deliver on the Seeds for the Future programme, our signature value chain development initiative that focuses on supporting farming communities, enabling wider education and skill development for young people, empowering indigent women and promoting health and nutrition across the country,” the Country Head for Olam Agri Nigeria, Mr Ashish Pande, said.
He congratulated the women and urged them to make the best use of the skills they had acquired at the baking academy.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Cecilia Bolaji Dada, the special guest at the event and presented the certificates to the women, commended CFM for its economic development focus and strong support for women.
“The Lagos State Government is aware of the prevailing economic situation and has been initiating valuable schemes that focus on empowering the active segment to boost their productivity and incomes levels.
“The CFM Crown Flour Angels Initiative would add to the various poverty alleviation and empowerment efforts embarked on by the administration of our hardworking Governor, His Excellency Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. On this note, I thank CFM for being a worthy partner of our dear state,” she said.
Mrs Bola Adeniji, the General Manager/Head of Marketing, CFM, highlighted the importance of the CFA initiative. She explained that the contribution of women to the growth of developing nations is receiving growing attention and that research has shown that a 1% increase in women’s contribution to an economy often raises the level of GDP by 58.4%.
On behalf of the beneficiaries of the initiative, Ms Samuel Oluwaseun Oluwatosin, also a participant in the training scheme, appreciated the efforts of the agribusiness.
She said the training they received would economically uplift them and their families and reinvigorate a desire to contribute to the nation’s economy positively.
A three-day accelerated bakers’ training was organised in Lagos to kick-start the project. The training was facilitated by an International Cake Exploration Société (ICES) expert, amongst others. So far, CFM has trained over 120 ICES women, mainly selected from the lower rung of the socioeconomic spectrum.
