Nigeria’s leading beverage brand, 7Up, proudly announces Boluwatife Akinola as the 14th recipient of its prestigious 7Up Harvard Business School (HBS) scholarship. Ms. Akinola was unveiled during an exclusive ceremony held at Seven-Up Bottling Company’s (SBC) head office in Ijora, Lagos.
The fully funded MBA scholarship to Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, is awarded annually by SBC to a Nigerian resident who has been admitted to HBS but requires financial support to pursue the program. The selection process for the scholarship is rigorous, with the winner chosen based on a competitive evaluation by SBC’s management.
Nkemdirm Agboti, Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs at SBC, praised the company’s Chairman, Mr. Faysal El-Khalil, for establishing the 7Up Harvard Business School Scholarship initiative and acknowledged the Managing Director, Mr. Ziad Maalouf, for his continued dedication to the program.
Speaking at the event, SBC’s Chief Marketing Officer, Norden Thurston, highlighted the scholarship as a testament to the company’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians by investing in their education. “By providing ordinary Nigerians extraordinary access to one of the world’s leading educational institutions, we are equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovation and change across various sectors, contributing to a better society,” he stated.
The 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship, which was established in 2010 to mark SBC’s 50th anniversary, has grown into a symbol of the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its dedication to giving back to the Nigerian community.
Reaffirming SBC’s commitment to the initiative, Managing Director Ziad Maalouf encouraged Ms. Akinola to make the most of this opportunity and to return to Nigeria to make a positive impact. “By empowering young minds like yours, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Since its inception, the scholarship has supported several outstanding individuals who have gone on to achieve remarkable success.
The first recipient, Misan Rewane, has been instrumental in enhancing the employability of graduates across West Africa through her organization, West African Vocational Education (WAVE).
Other notable recipients include Olujimi Williams (2012), Mayowa Kuyoro (2013), and more recent awardees like Desayo Ajisegiri (2021) and Oreoluwa Agunbiade (2023).
Expressing her gratitude, Boluwatife Akinola, the 2024 recipient, said, “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, particularly in reducing the number of out-of-school children. I am grateful to SBC for believing in my potential and providing me with this platform to contribute to the betterment of our society.”