Huge Boost For CELF 2.0, As 7-Up, Femtech, May Foundation, Others Pledges Support

As the camping for the 2021 edition of the Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship (CELF) formally commences tomorrow; more donors have indicated interest to offer varying degrees of support towards actualizing the objective of the fellowship.

Among the newest donors was the Ilorin plant of the manufacturer of the popular 7-Up drink, the Seven-Up Bottling Company, which pledged a donation of soft drinks and table water to support the camping exercise.

The Head, Human Resources of the Company, Mr. Ade Ogini, had, while making the donation to the representatives of  Haashim Initiative for Community Advancement (HICA) led by its publicity secretary, Abdulrasheed Saadudeen; applauded the initiative, noting that the fellowship would go a long way in addressing restiveness and high rates of dropout among youths, especially in the rural areas in Kwara State.

"The company made the donation in a bid to support the educational intervention which is capable of promoting human capital development," Ogini noted.

In his remarks, Mr. Saadudeen, the representative of HICA, who also doubles as the publicity secretary for the CELF project, thanked the management of Seven-Up for its support for the fellowship since its commencement in 2020. He pledged the continued commitment of HICA to the development of education, particularly in Kwara, and the sustainance of efforts aimed at facilitating self development, entrepreneurship and community development among youths. He also called for the continuation of a mutually beneficial partnership between Seven-Up and HICA.

Meanwhile, other organizations have also announced their support for the CELF project. Among the new donors are Femtech ICT, May Foundation, Sobi FM, FIK Construction Ltd, among others.