1/6/ 2018
By Kelechi NNANTA InvestAdvocate
Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-Helen Keller International (HKI), Nigeria, Mondelez International Foundation and the Lagos State Government last Friday performed the groundbreaking ceremony of its Healthy Lifestyle project designed to teach about 6,000 children the importance of proper nutrition, physical activity and gardening through in-school and after-school activities.
At the ceremony, Philomena Orji, HKI’s country director, said the partnership will result to a school gardening and health club been established, to help maintain gardens, promote nutrition and fitness activities.
Apart from the 6,000 children , the programme expected to run from January 2018 to December 2020 a three year period, would also benefit families in nine government schools and communities in Ikeja Local Council Area of Lagos State.
Orji said the new programme is building on HKI’s commitment to help communities thrive and improve the well-being of school-age children and their families.
The HKI’s country director added that the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle project aims to bring nutrition education, active play and fresh foods to undeserved children and their families in Ikeja council area.
Mondelēz International one of the world’s largest snacks companies is an American company with several brands, owns 74.99 percent of shares in Nigeria’s foremost food and beverage company, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, while the remaining 25.01 percent of shares goes to both the local and institutional investors.
HKI executioners of the Cadbury Nigeria Healthy Lifestyle Programme has already trained 130 stakeholders which include agriculturists, nutritionists and teachers.
Apart from the Ikeja local council area, other areas expected to benefit include Epe and Badagry, it is projected that an estimated 48,000 children and their families across the local council areas are indirectly touched.
Bala Yesufu, director, Corporate and Government Affairs, Cadbury Nigeria in his remark said the Mondelez International Foundation, which owns 74.99 percent of Cadbury Nigeria, is passionate about creating positive impact on people on the planet.
“The Foundation is focused on three pillars namely: investing in community programmes that promote active, healthy lifestyles to help improve the lives of children and their families around the world; providing humanitarian aid through cash and product when disaster strikes; and inspiring our colleagues to contribute their time and talent to charitable causes,” he affirmed.
According to Yesufu, community partnerships are transforming the lives of more than a million children in 14 nations spanning five continents.
The $50 million is from the Mondelez Group to the Mondelez International Foundation to promote years of healthy lifestyles and address obesity in nine countries, including Nigeria.
At the the event held at Agidingbi Primary School, school pupils, and government officials, the programme organisers disclosed that the gardening activities will provide an avenue for children to participate in school gardening which would enable them plant, weed and harvest nutritious crops.