Business
Coca-Cola Brightens Neonatal, Maternal Healthcare with Strategic Intervention
By Edozie Obasi-Eze
The Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, comprising Coca-Cola Nigeria and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), has stepped up efforts at mitigating neonatal and maternal mortality with a strategic intervention in Nigeria’s healthcare system, under its Safe Birth Initiative (SBI).
Director, Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, on Friday, in Port Harcourt, explained that SBI is the health-centric strategy with which the Coca-Cola System aims to reduce the high rate of deaths that have been occurring during childbirth in Nigeria, both for mothers and newborns.
SBI delivers both equipment and human capacity building to health institutions across Nigeria with the hope of bridging the shortfall in the availability of state-of-the-art medical equipment and a dearth of skilled manpower to optimally maintain what is available.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Owunari Georgwill expressed joy at the timely intervention of the Coca-Cola System in the healthcare sector. He opined that the top-notch equipment would impact beyond the UPTH and assured that those entrusted would make the most of it.
Read Also >> Owo Church Attack: Buhari, Osinbajo, Condemn Evil
He said, “Let me thank the donors, Coca-Cola Nigeria. I understand that the equipment are cutting-edge technology that will aid solution to complex medical conditions. I am certain that this will impact the whole of Niger Delta region.”
He added that the initiative would boost relationships between the government and institutions.
In addition, Onyemelukwe pointed out that kicking off this year’s initiative at Port Harcourt was particularly heartwarming because of the memories evoked by impact stories that have followed the SBI program which was launched in 2018
She said, “We are starting this year’s Safe Birth Initiative at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). The SBI would still reach out to more health institutions within the year. But what makes today an especially happy one for me is that the Coca-Cola System is able to meet specific equipment necessities of the Maternal and Neonatal Care Unit of UPTH.”
She recounted how a Consultant Pediatrician decried the absence of essential equipment, necessary for the healthcare needs of newborns with peculiar challenges like congenital heart failure which could offer them a good chance of survival, which had rendered the medics helpless, and parents hopeless.
“We are pleased to inform that SBI’s intervention has provided two sets of heart and lung machines amongst other lifesaving equipment to ensure that situations of helplessness and hopelessness in neonatal healthcare is now a thing of the past. We are optimistic that the donations today, which would be backed with human capacity building, will ensure that the impact is beyond the UPTH.”
The Safe Birth Initiative was launched in 2018 in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGS, the Federal Ministry of Health, and US-based International NGO, Medshare International, to support and strengthen the country’s healthcare capacity in achieving the SDG goals in relation to maternal and new-born mortalities.
Prior to the launch in Port Harcourt, SBI had so far reached over 56,000 families with over 3,000 mothers and babies impacted through its social investment program. In addition, Coca-Cola Nigeria has successfully upskilled over 200 biomedical engineers and 400 end-users with the requisite knowledge and skills to ensure optimal utilization of the medical equipment, and their effective maintenance.
The Chief Medical Director, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Prof. Henry Ugboma, applauded Coca-Cola for initiating and sustaining the healthcare support initiative, which he said would aid medics in delivering on their duty of saving lives.
He said, “We commend Coca-Cola for strengthening and uplifting the healthcare system in Nigeria with the Safe Birth Initiative. So far, SBI has provided capacity building of our biomedical engineers and technicians, and supported repairs of our broken-down equipment. For this, we remain deeply grateful to Coca-Cola and Medshare for such an excellent intervention.
Some of the hospitals that have benefited from this intervention include National Hospital Abuja, Federal Medical Center, Ebute-Metta, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesha, and Alimosho General Hospital. In the coming weeks, SBI will be reaching the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, with more health institutions lined up to benefit from it.
Savannah Energy has shared a trading update on its Nigerian operations and other markets in Africa, including up-to-date cash collections in its Nigerian business.
According to the update, made available on Thursday in Lagos, its gross production in Nigeria averaged 23.1 Kboepd for FY 2024, broadly in line with the prior year’s 23.6 Kboepd, of which 88% was gas (FY 2023: 91%).
On the update, CEO of Savannah Energy, Andrew Knott, said, “I am pleased to provide a FY trading update which demonstrates the continued progress we have made in 2024, a year which saw the highest level of cash collections ever recorded by our Nigerian business. 2025 is expected to be an exciting year for our Company: we have a large planned operational programme in Nigeria which is anticipated to enhance both our oil and gas production levels and capacity; we intend to progress our R3 East oil development project in Niger; we continue to pursue key acquisitions in the upstream oil and gas space; and we continue to seek to build our power business.
“Fundamentally, Savannah remains unequivocally an “AND” company, seeking to deliver strong performance both for the short AND long term across multiple fronts, and pursuing growth opportunities in both the hydrocarbon AND power sectors.”
The update It also shows that it generated a Total Income of US$393.6 million in 2024, compared to FY 2023’s US$289.8 million. This consists of Total Revenues of US$258.7 million and Other operating income of US$134.9 million.
The report also shows that Savannah’s FY 2024 Total Revenues were ahead of the previously issued financial guidance of greater than US$245 million, while FY 2024 financial guidance is reiterated for Operating expenses plus administrative expenses at ‘up to US$75 million’. The company expects its FY 2024 capital expenditure to come in lower than planned (previously guided at ‘up to US$50 million’) due to the phasing of spend.
ALSO READ: CSR: Dangote Awards Scholarships To 473 Students
According to the update, Savannah’s cash collections in 2024 amounted to US$248.5 million, a slight increase from the US$206 million it received in 2023. The report further shows that its cash balances as at 31 December 2024 stood at US$32.6 million, compared to the 31 December 2023 figure of US$107.0 million.
The report shows that the company’s midstream subsidiary, Accugas Limited, had as at 31 December 2024 drawn down on its NGN332 billion of the NGN Transitional Facility, with the resulting funds being converted to US$, which, along with cash held, was used to partially prepay the existing Accugas US$ Facility, leaving a balance as at 31 December 2024 of approximately US$212.3 million.
The report also provided new updates on Accugas’ US$45 million Uquo Central Processing Facility (“Uquo CPF”) compression project in Nigeria, noting that its commissioning which will enable the expansion of gas production in the medium term is well underway.
The report highlighted the progress being made in the procurement process of long lead equipment in Nigeria for a potential two-well drilling campaign on the Uquo Field in H2 2025, with an additional gas development well expected to add up to 80 MMscfpd of supplemental production capacity and a potential exploration well targeting an Unrisked Gross gas initially in place (“GIIP”) of 154 Bscf (25.7 MMboe) of incremental gas resources.
The update shows that progress is also being made in the planned Savannah acquisition of Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited, whose principal asset is a 49% non-operated interest in the Stubb Creek oil and gas field (“Stubb Creek”), with regulatory approval and completion being targeted in Q1 2025. Following the completion of the acquisition, Savannah intends to commence an expansion programme which is anticipated to increase Stubb Creek gross production from an average of 2.7 Kbopd in 2024 to approximately 4.7 Kbopd.
In Niger, Savannah continues to seek to progress its 35 MMstb (Gross 2C Resources) R3 East oil development in South-East Niger, while it continues to push for a potential alternative transaction structure to acquire a material stake in producing oil and gas assets in South Sudan as previously announced on 20 December 2024.
On the renewable energy front, the update shows that Savannah has up to 696 MW of renewable energy projects currently in motion, including the up to 250 MW Parc Eolien de la Tarka wind farm project in Niger and the up to 95 MW Bini a Warak hybrid hydroelectric and solar project in Cameroon. A firm believer in Africa’s transition to renewable energy, Savannah continues to target a portfolio of up to 2 GW+ of power projects in motion by the end of 2026.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has projected that the country has the potential to achieve a 5.5% growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if critical policy reforms are sustained.
This was disclosed on Thursday during the launch of the NESG’s 2025 Macroeconomic Outlook report.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Economist and Director of Research & Development at NESG, Dr. Olusegun Omisakin, highlighted the need for more efficient policy implementation to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.
READ MORE: Davido Is Richer Than His Billionaire Father – Ibrahim Chatta Claims
“We believe at the optimal level, if we embark on more efficient policy reforms, the Nigerian economy has the potential, the GDP to end up at 5.5 per cent, and we believe that this is achievable,” Omisakin stated.
More to follow……….
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the release of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Code, a set of guidelines designed to promote ethical conduct among authorized dealers in the country’s FX market.
In a statement, the apex bank disclosed that the official launch of the Code would take place on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the CBN Head Office Auditorium in Abuja.
READ MORE: Dangote Denies Culpability In Pumping Up Petrol Price
“The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the release of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Code as a guideline to the banking industry to promote the ethical conduct of authorised dealers in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market,” the statement read.
The introduction of the FX Code is expected to enhance transparency, accountability, and professionalism within Nigeria’s foreign exchange ecosystem, aligning it with global best practices.
The event is anticipated to attract key stakeholders in the financial and banking sectors, as well as representatives from authorized FX-dealing institutions across the country.
2Baba Disowns Divorce Announcement, Says Account Was Hacked
Shock As 2Baba Announces Separation From Wife, Annie Idibia
AC Milan Pull Off Thrilling Injury-Time Comeback To Beat Parma 3-2
Kano Businessman’s Daughter Kidnapped After ₦8m Ransom Payment
Colombia Blocks US Deportation Flights Over Migrant Treatment
Buhari Calls For Transparency Ahead Of Katsina LG Elections
OSSG Raises Alarm Over Murder Plot By APC Chieftain
NCC, SMEDAN, NAICOM, SEC, Others Set for SUPERNEWS SMEs Conf June 13
Sahara’s Tonye Cole resigns from GPHCDA
Niger Delta Avengers: President Buhari Reads riot Act …considers the carrot and stick option
Oando opens ultra-modern petrol station in Lagos
