Women in Lagos State, Nigeria, have received a major boost with the launch of the Coca-Cola Iconic Retail Kiosk, a joint initiative with the Lagos State Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. It is all part of a plan to promote economic empowerment through entrepreneurship.

Launched by the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire in Ikeja, the program will support families and communities as retailers of Coca-Cola beverages and complementary products, reports The Guardian. The project evolved from the Coca-Cola 5 by20 Initiative, the company’s global commitment launched in 2010 to enable the economic empowerment of five million women entrepreneurs in the Coca-Cola value chain by the year 2020.

Lagos State Deputy Governor said: “The Lagos State Government is doing its best to fight extreme poverty, and this partnership with Coca-Cola to empower women is a significant achievement in that fight.

“I enjoin other organizations to emulate Coca-Cola in providing tangible support to enhance job creation and economic empowerment for our women in order to drive sustainable growth.”

Adeola Adetunji, the Managing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria, said the program promotes the global consensus to uplift the economic status of women and demonstrates the value of public-private partnership in driving sustainable development.

Program participants are screened and recommended by the Ministry based on assessed needs. They are then trained on business skills and financial literacy and are provided with the seed capital to start the business.