Hero beer consolidates base in the eastern market, as Anambra govt endorses brand

The Anambra State Government has commended the Intafact Beverages Limited a subsidiary of SABMiller, one of the world’s largest brewers, for establishing the SABMiller Hero’s Foundation Kickstart Programme. Speaking at the official launch of the programme, the Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Entrepreneurship and Sports Development Mr. Tony Nnachetta affirmed the readiness of the state government to partner with Intafact Beverages in realizing the objectives of the initiative
Welcoming guest at the launch the Chairman, of the Board of Trustees of SABMiller Hero’s Foundation, His Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, The Obi of Onitsha noted that the SABMiller company’s Hero’s Foundation Kickstart offers strong prospects for new ideas and job creation in Nigeria, which is in urgent need of multiple new investment platforms in view of the country’s dwindling fortunes from oil.

His Majesty went on to say that the Kickstart programme, is aimed at creating and developing a local culture of business entrepreneurship among young people in the South East of the country, by encouraging and promoting business skills, managerial awareness and material support, through training programs, mentorship and provision of business grants as start-up capital or expansion seed funding.
Local youth with bright business ideas will have an opportunity to turn these ideas into reality, which will in turn, will help reduce unemployment, by engaging them meaningfully through the entrepreneurship development programme.
Explaining the objectives behind the launch of the programme, the Obi said that SABMiller is focused on bringing fresh ideas and social upward mobility to millions of people all over the world who enjoy its drinks and beverages; adding that the company does business in a way that strives to improve the livelihoods of the local communities in which it operates.
“We know that many of the communities where we work face serious challenges in their environments and societies, which we share with them. We know that when local communities prosper, so do we. The SABMiller Hero’s Foundation Kickstart Programme is Intafact Beverage’s Corporate Social Initiative (CSI), and part of its ongoing commitment towards poverty alleviation and sustainable enterprise development in its areas of operation”, he added.
For his part, Otunba Michael Daramola, Country Corporate Affairs and Strategy Director for SABMiller Nigeria, and Trustee, SABMiller Hero’s Foundation, explained that the programme was launched in South Africa in 1995, as a poverty alleviation scheme; adding that it has now evolved into a ideas competition platform to help develop sustainable youth-owned enterprises that will have a high impact in their local communities.

He mentioned that the KickStart program is currently implemented in various countries in Africa where SABMiller operates, including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Tanzania and Western Nigeria.
“Kickstart was launched in Nigeria in August 2015, by International breweries Plc Ilesha. Today marks the launch of Kickstart at Intafact Beverages Limited, Onitsha. It is anticipated that the programme will soon commence at Pabod Breweries Limited, Port Harcourt”, he said.
Otunba Michael Daramola also mentioned that the programme was developed from two operating perspectives; economic and business development, noting that from a development standpoint, KickStart helps create and support successful businesses in local communities, creating sustaining jobs and providing role models to inspire others.
From a business perspective, according to him, KickStart enables Intafact, SABMiller to deliver on its sustainable development objectives by helping to nurture more prosperous and healthy communities.