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(L to R) David Solarin, Director, Water Regulatory Enforcement and Advocacy, Ogun State Ministry of Environment ; Jokotade Agbatiogun, Director, Social Mobilization, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board; Edidiong Peters, Public Affairs Specialist, Nestlé Nigeria; Sola Ogunbor, Program Manager, Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency; Olumide Idowu, Founder, International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI)
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Lagos, Nigeria, April 3, 2023
Nestlé Nigeria has trained over 750 children, beneficiaries of the Nestlé for Healthier Kids
(N4HK) program in six primary schools in Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory.
Cross section of pupils from Gadonasko Science Primary School and Dobi Primary School, both in Gwagwalada Abuja, at Ecobarter - a sustainable waste management and solutions company in Abuja on an excursion for further exposure on recycling, upcycling and more practical sessions.
Now in its third season, Nestlé Sustainability Training for Kids is implemented in
collaboration with the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI). The
key objective is to enable children imbibe a sustainability mindset from an early age,
thereby equipping them to become better stewards of the planet. The participating
children are furnished with information on waste management, introduced to the
conversion of waste to useful items, and are encouraged to adopt positive behavioral
changes to enhance environmental sustainability.
In a statement announcing the start of the training at Sokoya Memorial Primary School,
Sagamu, Ogun State, Victoria Uwadoka, the Corporate Communications and Public
Affairs Manager of Nestlé Nigeria PLC said, “Equipping children with the right information
to help them develop a sustainability mindset is a significant first step in ensuring more
responsible management of waste in line with our shared vision of a waste free future.
“At Nestlé Nigeria, we are committed to protecting the environment for future
generations. We are aware that children play a key role in achieving this objective. We are
therefore delighted to collaborate with ICCDI, the Ogun State Ministry of Environment,
Ogun State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, the FCT and Ogun State Universal
Basic Education Boards on the Sustainability Training for Kids”, she added.
On his part, founder of the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI)
said, “We are happy that more children are benefitting from this training. ICCDI will
continue to do her part in ensuring that future generations are equipped with the requisite
knowledge to enable them appreciate our planet and understand their responsibility and
role towards protecting it”.
David Solarin, Director, Water Regulatory Enforcement and Advocacy, Ogun State
Ministry of Environment who represented the Honorable Commissioner for the Ogun
State Ministry of Environment said, “On behalf of the Honorable Commissioner and staff
of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, I applaud Nestlé Nigeria for this laudable
initiative promoting sustainable environment-friendly practices within public primary
schools in the state. The Ministry instituted the Environmental Management and Climate
Change Club both in private and public secondary schools across the state in 2021, with
the aim of raising environmentally conscious individuals who will become environment
ambassadors for the state. We are glad that Nestlé is taking up this responsibility for the
primary school space. The Ministry will continue to work with stakeholders especially the
private sector, for a clean, safe and hygienic environment”.
To gain hands on experience, 50 children from Gadonasko Science Primary School and
Dobi Primary School, both in Gwagwalada Abuja, visited Ecobarter, a sustainable waste
management and solutions company on an excursion for further exposure on recycling,
upcycling and more practical sessions.
Speaking on behalf of her classmates, Keziah Dabo, a primary 5 learner from Gadonasko
Science Primary School, Gwagwalada said “We had an exciting time at Ecobarter,
meeting the founder, Ms Rita and her team. It was an interesting experience to see the
various stages of recycling, from the dropping point to separation and crushing, and then
to the transformation! The part I really liked was the weaving loom where different
materials like lunch boxes, shoes, bags and mats were made. We want to thank Nestlé
and ICCDI for the opportunity to learn about recycling, reusing and reducing waste
through the Sustainability Training and today’s Excursion to Ecobarter”.
Nestlé Sustainability Training for Kids, implemented in Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK)
beneficiary schools, is one of the initiatives from Nestlé Nigeria to support the company’s
ambition of ensuring that none of its packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfills as
littler, or in waterways, rivers or oceans. The annual training has reached over 2,000
children from fourteen of the N4HK beneficiary schools in Ogun State and the Federal
Capital Territory since its inception in 2021.
Nestlé for Healthier Kids is a flagship initiative which aims to help 50 million children
globally, lead healthier lives by 2030.
In Nigeria, N4HK incorporates a school-based nutrition education program, which helps
children imbibe healthy habits including good nutrition, active lifestyles through adequate physical activity, good hygiene practices and healthy hydration
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