By Abbas Nazil
Seven-Up Bottling Company (SBC) concluded its 2024 Sustainability Week with a transformative event designed to empower young environmental leaders and drive sustainable development in Lagos State.
The grand finale of the Green Skill Schools Challenge and Exhibition, organized in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Education, showcased innovative solutions for tackling plastic pollution and promoting a circular economy.
The event, held at SBC’s manufacturing plant in Ikeja, Lagos, brought together students, educators, government representatives, environmental advocates, and non-governmental organizations.
Participants from 18 schools across Lagos’ six districts competed in a green-themed skills challenge.
Their projects aimed to address plastic waste management through upcycling and other sustainability-driven initiatives, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption), and 13 (Climate Action).
Ziad Maalouf, Managing Director of SBC, expressed immense pride in the success of the initiative, emphasizing its alignment with the company’s core values of fostering innovation and promoting environmental awareness.
He noted that the event highlighted the creativity and commitment of young minds eager to make a positive environmental impact.
Maalouf remarked: “We are incredibly proud of these future leaders who have participated in the Green Skills School Challenge. Through initiatives like this, we can empower youth to become the sustainability champions of tomorrow.”
The challenge attracted 330 applications from schools across Lagos, with three schools from each district selected to compete in the finale.
Projects presented demonstrated innovative approaches to plastic pollution, including upcycled products and waste-to-resource initiatives.
The competition culminated with the announcement of winners, where Lagos Model Senior College claimed the grand prize of ₦1 million.
The second and third-place schools were awarded ₦500,000 and ₦250,000, respectively, while other participating schools shared ₦1.5 million in consolation prizes.
In addition to these awards, all participating students received grants of ₦110,000 each. These grants, provided through a partnership between SBC, Zenith Bank, and LAWMA Academy, aim to enhance students’ capacity-building in environmental sustainability and entrepreneurship.
The event extended beyond the competition by launching the GREEN SKILL SCALE UP bootcamp, a specialized training program designed to equip participants with practical skills in waste management, environmental advocacy, and green entrepreneurship.
The boot camp, coordinated in collaboration with Fate Foundation, LAWMA Academy, NESREA, Green Hub Africa, and NECA, will offer students hands-on training and mentorship.
These efforts will prepare them to commercialize their innovative ideas and expand their impact in the green economy.
Participants will also gain opportunities to showcase their projects on global platforms, including a United Nations event on World Environment Day, June 5, 2025.
SBC’s Sustainability Week, themed “Championing Circular Economy in Our Business and Communities – THE SABI WAY,” underscores the company’s dedication to corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
By empowering young environmental leaders, SBC is contributing to a future where sustainability and innovation drive positive change in communities and beyond.
