Benin City, Edo State – Guinness Nigeria Plc, a leading beverage company, has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Edo State Government in empowering women and supporting Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) in schools. The Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, John Musunga, made this known during a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Musunga affirmed that the Guinness team in Benin City is eager to work with the Edo State Government on a partnership arrangement that focuses on the empowerment of women through its “Plan W” women’s empowerment program. The goal of this collaboration is to create more job opportunities for the people of Edo State.During the meeting, Musunga assured Governor Obaseki that Guinness Nigeria Plc has the right team to address the challenges related to school TVET, park beautification, and logistics. He further emphasized their commitment to provide prompt responses outlining the medium and long-term strategies that can be implemented to support these initiatives.
Speaking about the conducive business environment in Edo State, Musunga commended the Obaseki-led administration for its remarkable infrastructure development efforts. He highlighted the stability experienced by Guinness Nigeria Plc in Benin City over the past six years, even during election cycles. This stability has provided the company with the confidence to continue investing in the state.Musunga also took the opportunity to inform Governor Obaseki about Guinness Nigeria Plc’s investment drives and corporate social responsibilities in the state. He mentioned the company’s substantial investment of about four million pounds in a new water treatment plant, which is set to be fully commissioned in the coming weeks. The water treatment plant will play a vital role in recycling approximately 80 percent of the company’s effluent water to a safe and usable level.
However, Musunga expressed concerns about foreign exchange (forex) challenges impacting the company’s business investment plans in the country. This issue underscores the need for continued collaboration and support from the government to address such obstacles.In response, Governor Obaseki reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for investors. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to improve transportation infrastructure by developing a transport hub and constructing parks to enhance transportation organization.
Governor Obaseki also highlighted the government’s focus on skills development and capacity building. He urged Guinness Benin factory to adopt Western Boys High School as a TVET center, with the aim of training students who can eventually work as senior engineers within the factory. The Governor expressed his vision to make the city more beautiful and attractive by creating additional parks and enhancing green spaces. As part of this vision, he proposed that Guinness Nigeria Plc adopt a nearby park, with the government assisting in the design process.
The collaboration between Guinness Nigeria Plc and the Edo State Government signifies a positive step towards women empowerment and the advancement of TVET in schools. By combining efforts, both parties are poised to make a significant impact on job creation, infrastructure development, and community engagement in Edo State.As the partnership takes shape, Guinness Nigeria Plc remains dedicated to the long-term growth and sustainability of its operations in Benin City. The company’s investment drives and corporate social responsibilities underscore its commitment to the well-being of the local community and the development of Edo State as a whole.
