The Nigerian Bottling Company has started the 2026 cycle of its core youth development programme, the Youth Empowered initiative, with a session held at the University of Lagos on February 2, 2026. The programme targets Nigerians aged 16 to 35 and aims to equip them with skills employers and business environments demand.
NBC is a major consumer goods firm operating in Nigeria and part of the Coca-Cola HBC Group. This initiative is central to its strategy for human capital development. Since its launch in 2017, Youth Empowered has reached tens of thousands of young Nigerians and provided them with practical skills, workplace readiness, and confidence to compete in a fast-changing economy.
The 2026 programme is delivered in partnership with the Fate Foundation, which implements the training, and receives funding support from The Coca-Cola HBC Foundation. NBC acknowledged both partners for enabling a wider reach and deeper impact.
A participant at the University of Lagos session described her experience in positive terms. She said she gained not just training, but also focus and belief in her idea. “Winning the grant means I can finally take my business idea from a dream into something real,” she said. “I now feel prepared to build, grow, and create opportunities not just for myself, but for others too.”
NBC emphasised that youth empowerment is vital to Nigeria’s social and economic development. The Youth Empowered programme is designed to close the gap between formal education and employability. It combines hands-on learning, real-world insights, and opportunities to build networks with employers.
The programme’s impact in 2025 provides concrete evidence of its effectiveness. Ten young Nigerians gained six-month paid internships with NBC in locations including Lagos, Ibadan, Asejire, and Challawa. These internships gave direct exposure to business operations and strengthened their work readiness. In addition, three outstanding participants received full sponsorship for an intensive culinary training course and ₦1 million each to help launch their business ideas.
Building on these outcomes, the 2026 rollout will reach more tertiary institutions, including the Federal University of Technology, Akure. This follows a 2025 campus tour that covered cities such as Makurdi, Jos, Benin, Kaduna, Asaba, Akure, and Port Harcourt.
Training modules for 2026 focus on the core skills employers and markets continue to seek. These include business life skills, adaptability and resilience, financial literacy, customer service, communication, sales and negotiation, and workplace ethics. These are complemented by breakout workshops on business planning, project management, and time management.
A signature component of the programme is the Director’s Grant Pitch Competition. Participants can present business ideas and compete for funding that supports enterprise launch or growth. NBC also deploys its People and Culture team during the sessions to identify high-potential talent for future opportunities within the organisation.
Overall, the initiative reflects NBC’s sustained investment in youth readiness for jobs and economic contribution. By aligning education with real-world skills and exposure, the programme seeks measurable improvements in employability and entrepreneurship outcomes for young Nigerians.
