International Breweries Plc, through its corporate social responsibility arm, International Breweries Foundation, has announced that it has presented past winners of its renowned Kickstart Initiative to the deputy governors and community leaders of Ogun and Rivers states.

According to a statement, the initiative is aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths and providing a platform for young business owners to showcase their enterprises to government officials and traditional rulers.

In Ogun State, the delegation was received by Deputy Governor Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who commended IBPLC for its impactful youth empowerment efforts. “Kickstart is a testament to the untapped potential of Nigerian youths. I appreciate International Breweries for being a responsible corporate entity and a valuable partner in progress for Ogun State,” she stated.

Among the past beneficiaries presented was Olatunbosun Abiodun, the 2021 grand prize winner who received N3m to establish Thrash Bank Limited, a company that transforms plastic waste into raw materials for manufacturing.

“Kickstart gave me the opportunity to turn my vision into reality. Today, Thrash Bank is contributing to the economy of Ogun State and Nigeria,” he said.

The event also had the presence of the Olu of Orile Imo, Oba Oluwambe Reuben Sogaolu, who praised IBPLC’s commitment to youth development.

“I have been following the Kickstart programme since 2019. My message to beneficiaries is to be accountable, as it reassures sponsors and encourages further investments in young entrepreneurs,” he advised.

In Rivers State, the IBPLC team, led by Country Corporate Affairs Lead, Dr. Marian Reginald-Ukwuoma, was welcomed at the Government House by Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Mma Odu.

The highlight of the visit was a presentation by Enomate Aghigho, the 2019 N3m star prize winner and CEO of Fabelek Engineering, who appreciated Kickstart for helping him move his innovation from prototype to market.

The Deputy Governor, Odu, lauded IBPLC’s dedication to youth development, saying, “It is exciting to see a company deeply invested in empowering young Nigerians. The rigorous selection process of Kickstart ensures transparency and credibility, making this initiative highly commendable.”

The company noted that Kickstart has empowered Nigerian youths with training, grants, and mentorship, creating 672+ jobs and investing N600m across 30 states.