NESTLÉ CARES: A STAFF STRENGTH’S COMMITMENT TO IMPACTING NIGERIA’S DEMOGRAPHIC DESTINY
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Chizoba Ezirim, National Coordinator and Head of strategy at REVAMP Africa; Olurotimi Joseph Egunyomi, Principal, Estate Senior Grammar School, Ilupeju; Wassim Elhusseini, MD/CEO at Nestlé Nigeria; Ayola Feyitayo Stephen, Vice Principal, Estate Senior Grammar School, Ilupeju; Anyalechi, Founder, REVAMP Africa; Edidiong Peters, Public Affairs Specialist, Nestlé Nigeria and Bola Audu, Corporate Communications Specialist, Nestlé Nigeria
An organization’s core identity and culture is reflected in the products, processes, and activities she engages in both as a corporate entity and staff-wide.
Nestlé’s commitment to its purpose ‘to unlock the power of food to enhance the quality of life for everyone today and for generations to come’ is exceptionally reflected in the fact that its staff strength is committed to human development, especially that of global youth population.
From the no. 1 person on the hierarchy of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, the Managing Director/CEO, Wassim Elhusseini down the ladder of a staff strength of over 2,300 direct employees in 3 manufacturing sites, 7 branch offices and a head office located in Lagos, the commitment to Nigeria’s demographic destiny is reflected. Through the Nestlé Cares program, many of the staff have imbibed and demonstrated the culture of impacting the future and demographic destiny of Nigeria.
Nestlé Cares is the company’s employee volunteer program which provides opportunities for Nestlé employees to give back to society by offering their time, talent and resources to impact individuals and families, communities, and the environment. The result is that they have mentored 12,000 students in 23 public secondary schools across Nigeria in one year.
Trek Africa Newspaper will report that this 12000 mentees were impacted by only 280 employees, imagine what Nestlé will achieve with her 2300 staff? Imagine what every Nigerian employee can achieve if they engage their time, talents, and resources in volunteering? Imagine what will happen if every Nigerian corporate organization encourage this attitude in their staff?
Speaking about Nestlé Cares, the Managing Director/CEO Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Wassim Elhusseini who himself participated in the volunteering program revealed: ‘At Nestlé, we believe that communities cannot thrive if they fail to offer a future for younger generations. I am therefore delighted that Nestlé is collaborating with REVAMP Africa on this initiative that prepares young people for success in life. The Youth Leadership Mentoring Program is a great opportunity to encourage children to imbibe the right values, build good character and develop leadership skills.’
‘I am proud of the 280 Nestlé Cares volunteers who have dedicated time despite their busy schedules to mentor 12,000 children across the country over a 4-week period. We are confident of the positive impact this initiative will make in the lives of all the mentees.’
With more efforts of the staff strength of the 62-year-old food and beverage giant through its trailblazing Nestlé Care program, the demographic destiny of Nigeria is sure to be impacted positively. This is proof positive that young individuals across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria will be empowered with the right skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to excel in an ever-evolving world and to make Nigeria take its place among the comity of nations.
Trek Africa Newspaper applauds Nestlé Nigeria PLC for its commitment to ‘delighting consumers around Nigeria by consistently delivering high quality nutritious food’ as well as empowering and nurturing Nigeria’s youthful population through experiential learning so that they can place the most populous Black country on the world map of significance across various sectors of human endeavour.
