To empower and inspire young Nigerians, 7Up, Nigeria’s leading beverage brand, has announced Ms. Boluwatife Akinola as the 14th recipient of the prestigious 7Up Harvard Business School (HBS) scholarship award.
This fully funded MBA scholarship at the renowned Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, is awarded annually to a Nigerian resident who has been accepted to HBS but lacks the financial means to fund their education.
The unveiling ceremony, recently held at the Seven-Up Bottling Company (SBC) headquarters in Ijora, Lagos, was graced by dignitaries and representatives from the company. Mrs. Nkemdirim Agboti, Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs, praised the SBC Chairman, Mr. Faysal El-Khalil, for launching the scholarship program and commended the Managing Director, Mr. Ziad Maalouf, for sustaining and enhancing the initiative.
Established in 2010 to mark SBC’s 50th anniversary, the 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship has successfully supported 14 recipients, reflecting the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its dedication to giving back to society.
Past recipients have achieved significant milestones, including Misan Rewane, who is working to enhance the employability of fresh graduates across West Africa, alongside other notable alumni like Olujimi Williams, Mayowa Kuyoro, Oluwasola Olaniyan, Bankole Makanjuola, Chidozie Ibekwe, Ahmed Alimi, Olunma Izejiobi, Uzoma Anyanwa, Abdul-Rahman Buhari, Desayo Ajisegiri, Dafi Rogers-Halliday, and Ms. Oreoluwa Agunbiade.
Ms. Boluwatife Akinola, the 2024 scholarship recipient, expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honored to receive the 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship. This opportunity is a dream come true, and I am committed 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.”
Seven-Up Bottling Company continues to pave the way for a greener future for Nigeria by inspiring and empowering young Nigerians through various initiatives, including SME Scale Up, Pepsi Football Academy, and Pepsi Music Academy, among others.