Guinness empowers 150 women in Imo

No fewer than 150 underprivileged women were empowered to start up drink distribution business on Wednesday in Owerri by the Guinness Empowerment programme.

The women were trained on business management strategies for profitability and assigned supervising sales officers to guide them in the businesses.

Speaking at the programme, the Corporate Relations Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Rotimi Odushola, said the programme was conceived as a way of giving back to key stakeholders.

Odushola said the targeted beneficiaries were underprivileged women with “entrepreneurial instincts” who would hopefully start up their businesses with the materials provided at the programme.

He added the company believes in diversity, women inclusion and other economically disadvantaged members of society.

Odushola said they would continue to monitor the beneficiaries and provide them with connections to sustain their businesses as a way of helping them to stand on their feet economically.

Also speaking at the programme, a Manager at Guinness, Mrs Olanike Onakoya, said the exercise was a reflection of the company’s policy on gender inclusion and women empowerment.

Onakoya while highlighting the need for gender parity expressed hope that it would be achieved through women empowerment.

She, however, urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity.

Onakoya said that the programme would not only teach the women how to maximise profits but also provide economic uplift and improve self-esteem.