By Chibuzor Alli
Coca-Cola says its plastic recycling initiatives have supported more than 13,000 Nigerians in earning incomes as the company marks 75 years of operations in the country.
The Coca-Cola System, comprising Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, its bottling partner Nigerian Bottling Company, and The Coca-Cola Foundation, said its investments in Nigeria had expanded beyond beverage production to include water access, plastic recycling, youth skills development, maternal health and other community programmes.
The company disclosed this in a document released on Monday highlighting its activities and social impact in Nigeria.
On plastic recycling, Coca-Cola said initiatives including the Empowering Collectors Initiative, Plastics Recycling Programme (PReP), CyclePlast, Tidy Nigeria and Green Campus had supported more than 13,000 Nigerians in earning incomes through the collection and aggregation of plastic waste.
The company said it had also expanded recycling infrastructure with the opening of a Packaging Collection Hub in Apapa, Lagos.
According to Coca-Cola, the facility has the capacity to process 13,000 metric tonnes of PET bottles annually and supports more than 1,000 informal waste collectors and 70 aggregators.
Coca-Cola expands water access projects
The company said it had implemented water access projects in communities through its Strengthening Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programme.
Under the initiative, boreholes and handwashing stations were rehabilitated across six communities in Maiduguri, including an internally displaced persons camp, two health facilities and a school.
Coca-Cola said more than 16,000 people now had access to safer water through the projects.
It added that local women had been engaged as hygiene promoters, while youths were trained as maintenance artisans to support the sustainability of the facilities.
In Imo State, Coca-Cola said it helped restore 15,000 cubic metres of riverbank vegetation along the Otamiri River.
The company said the restoration would help safeguard water supplies for 25 communities, while community committees were trained to manage the systems.
Coca-Cola youth programmes reach thousands
Coca-Cola said its Youth Empowered programme, led by Nigerian Bottling Company, had impacted 70,000 young Nigerians through life skills training, entrepreneurship programmes and internship opportunities.
It added that the Digital Skilling and Employment Project and AWAMBI had trained more than 130,000 youths in digital skills.
The company said its operations also generate thousands of direct jobs and hundreds of thousands of indirect livelihoods across manufacturing, logistics, packaging, retail, transportation and recycling.
It added that its distribution network, powered by indigenous entrepreneurs and retailers, enables its products to reach consumers across Nigeria.
Coca-Cola maternal health programme
Through its Safe Birth Initiative, Coca-Cola said it had equipped maternity and neonatal units in public hospitals with medical devices and trained biomedical technicians.
More than 43,000 mothers and newborns had benefited from the programme, according to the company.
The company said the initiative formed part of its broader efforts to support communities and strengthen access to essential services.
Coca-Cola marks 75 years in Nigeria
Coca-Cola also highlighted campaigns including Share a Coke, Coke Studio, Coke with Meals and Schweppes’ “Born Social”, as well as its recent 75th anniversary celebration, as part of its efforts to maintain cultural relevance in Nigeria.
Marking the milestone, the company said, “E Don Tey, We Still Dey.”
It said it remained committed to refreshing lives, empowering communities and building a sustainable future for generations to come.
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