In keeping with its vision of creating shared values for the society, Nestle Nigeria Plc has completed and handed over two blocks of six classrooms with standard learning facilities to the Ogun state ministry of education and the Orile-Imo community of the state.
The educational infrastructure development initiative by the company commenced in 2009 with the renovation of a block of three classrooms at the salvation Army Primary School as disclosed by the executive chairman of the state universal basic education, Akande Ajibola.
The managing director and chief executive of Nestle Nigeria, Dharnesh Gordhon, noted that the initiative was spurred by the company's belief that access to high quality education was essential to reduce rural poverty, stressing that educational opportunities were often limited for rural children.
"Through rural development, providing local employment and encouraging sustainable production practices, we not only seek to protect the supply and quality of our raw materials, but also to have a positive, long-term impact on the local economy and standards of living," he said.
He disclosed that for over 50 years of the company's operations in Nigeria, their factories have been major engines for rural development, creating employment and contributing to local infrastructure development besides helping to improve health through nutrition and clean water provision.
The Ogun state commissioner of education, science and technology in his remarks stressed that the gesture will no doubt make an indelible impression on the pupils and other benefi ciaries of the project.
"This impact is being felt by those who have been born and even those yet unborn; it is a unique gesture coming from a nutrition company and indeed highly commendable," he said.
