In a significant move toward community development, Nigerian Breweries PLC has officially commissioned and handed over a modern cassava processing facility to the Awa Omamma community in Imo State. The ceremony, held on Wednesday, marks a substantial investment in local economic empowerment by the multinational company.
A Transformative Economic Initiative
The newly inaugurated plant boasts a processing capacity of two tons of cassava per day and represents a Build and Operate facility model. During the handover ceremony, NBL's Managing Director and CEO, Thibaut Boidin, revealed that the project is expected to yield an impressive N500 million in annual profit for the benefiting community.
"Today, we gather here to commission the Cassava Processing Plant, a project that's dear to our hearts and a testament to our commitment to enriching lives and building a future of opportunities, particularly for our community," Boidin stated during the event.
Mixed Feelings Amid Celebration
The celebration was tempered by concerns about the status of NBL's 33 brewery in the community, which has been shut down for over two years. The Imo State Governor, represented by Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment Rex Anunobi, appealed to the company to reconsider this closure.
"Our stay today is a celebration with mixed feelings," Anunobi acknowledged. "Whatever led to the shutting down of the Brewery here, those concerns and challenges should be addressed to enable this plant to come on stream. Whatever challenges and concerns, Imo State government will help you."
Commitment to Sustainable Development
Boidin emphasized that the cassava processing facility is designed to create multiple direct and indirect employment opportunities for local youth and residents. He reaffirmed NBL's dedication to corporate social responsibility across various sectors including education, healthcare, access to clean water, COVID-19 support, security, and economic empowerment.
The company has previously supported the host community with various infrastructure projects, including the donation of transformers for electricity supply.
Following the formal handover of keys, the community monarch, Eze Val Amanfo, expressed gratitude for the gesture and promised that the community would guard the facility jealously and utilize it at optimal levels to maximize the projected benefits.
