Seven Up Bottling Company (SBC), Nigeria’s beverage brand, has announced Boluwatife Akinola as the recipient of the 7Up Harvard Business School (HBS) scholarship award, as part of its drive to develop the next generation of leaders.
Every year, Seven-Up Bottling Company awards a fully-funded MBA scholarship at the famous Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, United States to a Nigerian resident in Nigeria who has been admitted to Harvard for an MBA program but cannot afford it.
Akinola was chosen after a thorough competition procedure and meeting all of the criteria established by Seven-Up Bottling Company’s management.
At the unveiling of the new recipient in Lagos, Ziad Maalouf, managing director of SBC, stated that the project was aimed to cultivate a pool of globally educated Nigerians who will make important contributions to the country’s growth.
Maalouf stated that by nurturing young minds such as Akinola, the company is creating the groundwork for a better future for all Nigerians.
He urged the recipient to spread her wings, learn and develop, and stressed the importance of her returning home after her studies to make a difference in Nigeria as SBC will support her in making a difference.
Nkemdirim Agboti, head of legal and corporate affairs at SBC, praised Faysal El-Khalil, chairman of SBC, for launching the 7Up Harvard Business School Scholarship program, while also lauding the efforts of the managing director, Ziad Maalouf for sustaining and building on the initiative.
Norden Thurston, chief marketing officer at SBC, said the initiative is one of SBC’s proofs to continually inspire and empower young Nigerians by investing in the education of future leaders of the country.
“We are not only equipping young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge needed to make a substantial impact on our society but also inspiring them in driving innovation and change in diverse sectors for a better society,” he said.
The 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship, established in 2010 to commemorate SBC’s 50th anniversary, has successfully awarded 14 receipts and has grown to become a testament to SBC’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and giving back to the community in which it has operated since October 1, 1960.
Since its inception, the scholarship has recognised and supported the following exceptional individuals, who have gone on to achieve amazing success: Misan Rewane, the first recipient of the scholarship in 2010, is actively committed in improving the employment skills of recent graduates throughout West Africa through her initiative, West African Vocational Education (WAVE).
Other past recipients who are doing amazing things and adding value to the society are Olujimi Williams (2012), Mayowa Kuyoro (2013), Oluwasola Olaniyan (2014), Bankole Makanjuola (2015), Chidozie Ibekwe (2016), Ahmed Alimi (2017), Olunma Izejiobi (2018), Uzoma Anyanwa (2019), Abdul-Rahman Buhari (2020), Desayo Ajisegiri (2021), Dafi Rogers-Halliday (2022) and Oreoluwa Agunbiade (2023).
“I am deeply honoured to receive the 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship. This opportunity is a dream come true, and I will commit to using my education to make a significant impact in Nigeria by returning to contribute my quota in reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria,” said Boluwatife Akinola, the 2024 recipient.
He praised the company for believing in her potential and allowing her to contribute to the advancement of society.
As a company, Seven-Up Bottling Company continues to ensure a greener future for our beloved Nigeria by motivating and empowering young Nigerians through a variety of initiatives such as SME Scale Up, Pepsi Football Academy, and Pepsi Music Academy, among others.