The Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), bottlers of Coca-Cola products in Nigeria, has graduated 69 trainees from the 27th edition of its Supply Chain Academy.
The ceremony held at the company’s Ikeja plant in Lagos recently attracted dignitaries from government, industry and the local community.
Since its establishment in 1996, the NBC Supply Chain Academy has become a model of technical excellence and leadership development in Nigeria’s beverage and manufacturing sector. Over nearly three decades, it has recruited more than 1,460 young Nigerians, with about 920 securing employment within NBC. Notably, 94 alumni have risen to senior management roles, including one Plant Manager—demonstrating the Academy’s pivotal role in nurturing industry leaders.
Each year, the programme admits the brightest Ordinary National Diploma (OND) graduates from polytechnics across Nigeria while also serving as a platform for upskilling NBC’s existing workforce. Over 1,100 employees benefit annually from bespoke training modules tailored to boost technical know-how, leadership, and workplace safety.
The Academy’s curriculum blends rigorous classroom instruction with practical, hands-on experience. Trainees work on mini production lines, undergo driver and safety simulations, and access world-class learning facilities including a digital learning lab, library, on-site clinic, and canteen.
Speaking at the graduation, NBC Managing Director, Goran Sladic, described the Supply Chain Academy as a cornerstone of the company’s contribution to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.
“The Supply Chain Academy is just one way we demonstrate our commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic development. Our investments in technology, infrastructure, and talent are not just about growing our business, but about empowering people, strengthening local capabilities, and embedding sustainability in everything we do,” Sladic said.
He further commended the graduates for their innovative group project, Smart Traffic Light, which replaces traditional convex mirrors in NBC facilities with a safer, more efficient system.
“This is the type of ingenuity that will define the future of our industry,” he added.
Government officials and industry leaders also applauded NBC’s long-standing investment in human capital. Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, praised the initiative as a practical response to youth unemployment. Similarly, the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, and the Chairman of the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Adebanjo Moyosore, lauded the Academy’s role in bridging Nigeria’s skills gap.
Delivering the valedictory speech, Anosike Miracle, expressed heartfelt gratitude to NBC, the Academy’s trainers, and the Ikeja leadership team, while charging his colleagues to uphold the values instilled in them.
“Success is not always about being number one; it is about being consistent, being passionate, and staying true to who we are. As we leave these walls behind, let us carry the lessons we have learned, the friendships we have built, and the values instilled in us to ensure we pass them on to the younger generation,” he said.
With the graduation of the 27th cohort, NBC has further entrenched its legacy as not just a beverage company but also a builder of human capital, equipping young Nigerians with the skills, discipline, and leadership qualities needed to power the nation’s manufacturing future.
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