Lagos, May 23, 2024 – Top Italian brandy, Vecchia Romagna (VR) 1820, has sponsored Governor Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s empowerment initiative for a third consecutive edition. A graduation ceremony was held for the latest graduates of the initiative on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.
Tagged Project LOUD (Lagos of Our Dream), the initiative equips youth in Lagos with vocational skills in fashion design, hair-dressing, mixology, make-up, digital marketing, shoe making and catering amongst others. VR 1820 empowered top students from the mixology class with robot cocktail blenders to kickstart their careers. The equipment is expected to help the students launch their mixology business, which involves mixing cocktails and inventing new and exotic drinks to refresh socialites in bars and at events.
Speaking briefly at the graduation ceremony, the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe who represented the Governor of Lagos State said the government is proud of the initiative and will continue to channel resources towards ensuring youth in the state are enabled economically.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fidossi Wines & Spirits which is the distributor of VR 1820 in Nigeria, Fidelis Egbochie explained, “Enabling young people to participate widely in creating jobs will go a long way to reduce unemployment and generate prosperity across the country. We believe in the vision of the state Governor and are proud of its investment focus in the area of youth development. This is why VR 1820 is supporting the government’s Project LOUD initiative.”
“We are thrilled to be supporting the initiative. We hope the beneficiaries of the initiative will go ahead to build a business out of the skills they have acquired, as well put the equipment they have received to effective use”, he added.
Tina Oyobolo, one of the graduates in the Mixology class and a recipient of the VR 1820 blender machines, said, “I am highly delighted to receive the support of VR 1820 as I launch into the mixology market. This support will give me a head-start as I won’t have to start looking for money to buy equipment to start mixing cocktails on a commercial scale. Big thank you to the brand for making my dream come true.”
