Nigerian state programs

Beta Glass Plc, announced on Wednesday the appointment of Dr. Zulikat Wuraola Abiola to its board as an independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 6th July 2017. Dr. Abiola is the Managing Director of Management Transformation Limited (MTL), a management consultancy firm based in Lagos. In her role at MTL which spans nearly two decades, she overseas business strategy for clients, business development, leadership, governance, organizational development, risk management and public sector policy consulting. Prior to her work at MTL, she worked for McKinsey & Co in New York and London in the areas of Strategy and Organisation. She is also a Senior Lecturer (Adjunct) – Organizational Development at the University of Lagos, Department of Business Administration and serves as the lead MT

Nigerian Bottling Company (“NBC”), the bottler of Coca-Cola products in Nigeria has said it remains committed to supporting government’s efforts to reducing unemployment in the country. The firm which is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC) and the largest soft drinks company in Nigeria recently unveiled a management trainee programme. NBC said the programme is designed to select best of young talents to play key roles in the company’s future growth, adding that this is in line with Coca-Cola HBC strategic focus on talent acquisition and development of its 2017 MTP. Director of Human Resources, NBC, Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai said, NBC remains committed to supporting government’s drive to reducing unemployment in the country hence the introduction of this programme. Sha sa

South African Breweries (SAB), a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev in South Africa, on Monday unveiled an ambitious programme to create 10,000 jobs in South Africa by 2021. AB InBev which last year acquired SABMiller, a brewer with deep roots in South Africa said the jobs to be created would come from the company’s various entrepreneurship schemes such as SAB Kickstart, SAB Foundation, SAB Thrive and SAB Accelerator, as well as its agriculture programmes to grow emerging farmers. “We are committed to making a substantial contribution towards South Africa’s national agenda of growing the economy through creating jobs and reducing unemployment, particularly amongst our youth. As a business that started [with] an entrepreneur itself, we strongly believe that entrepreneurship is the most appr

Distell Group, the South African wines, spirits and cider producer on Monday reported a 3.7% revenue growth for the full-year ended 30th June 2017. Revenue rose to R22.3bn ($1.72bn). The company noted that its South African market which contributed 74% of group sales grew 7.8%, while volumes rose by 1.5%. The second-half of the year saw a marked improvement, with total volumes rising 5.4%. The maker of Amarula cream liqueur and Savanna cider said that its spirits portfolio delivered strong revenue and volume growth, while the wine portfolio grew volumes and revenue amid increased competition from multinationals. The cider and ready-to-drink (RTD) portfolio reflected an improved sales mix as total volumes recovered in the second-half of the year. The company which had been implementing effi...

Producers of table water in Lagos State are threatening to leave the state en masse for neigbouring Ogun and Oyo states if Lagos does not take steps to harmonise its tax collection system. “Our members are poised to relocate to Ogun and Oyo. We have 2,600 members, with each employing at least 20 workers,” Clementina Ativie, president, Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATAWAP), Lagos State chapter, said in Lagos. She said that the group has complained severely to the state government over multiplicity of taxes, rates, illegal levies, harassment of businesses by revenue officers, especially those from local governments, saying it would be to the mutual interest of all to harmonise the system as businesses were leaving Lagos for neighbouring states. “We want to clearly know wha

Guinness Nigeria Plc, said on Tuesday that revenue for the full-year ended 30th June 2017 grew 23% to ₦126bn, up from ₦102bn in the previous year. The maker of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout and Dubic Lager said it returned to profitability for the first time in four quarters, posting a profit of ₦1.9bn, from a loss of ₦2bn. Commenting on the results, Guinness Nigeria’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Peter Ndegwa said that the company’s results were driven by a relentless focus on executing its strategy and keeping costs down. “Despite the challenging economic conditions, we have remained focused on executing our company’s total beverage strategy which gained further traction with strong growth in our international premium spirits portfolio following our first full year of distribution.” The com

Goldberg Lager beer, a brand of Nigerian Breweries Plc, on Thursday launched the much anticipated Isedowo Youth Empowerment Scheme at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II amid fanfare. The event brought together other prominent Obas and chiefs from the Southwest as his Majesty Oba Ogunwusi commended Nigerian Breweries for the initiative which he said is a bold step at improving the lot of small scale entrepreneurs in the South West region. “On behalf of my brothers from the seven Yoruba speaking states, I thank Goldberg Lager beer and Nigerian Breweries for this community partnership with the Yoruba people. By leading the way to support the businesses and entrepreneurial potential of artisans in the Southwest, you have challenged other corporate bodies to giv

French spirits group Pernod Ricard on Thursday reported a 13% lift in profit for the full-year ended June 2017. The company said that profit rose to €1.4bn ($1.65bn) on the back of a €9bn sales growth. The maker of Jameson Irish Whiskey and Absolut vodka said that the good performance was fueled by strong growth in the U.S., an improvement in China, tight cost control and by innovation, which it describes as new products or variations of existing brands, like Absolut Lime vodka or Jameson Black Barrel. The company said that the Americas region grew 7%, driven by the U.S. which saw a 5% sales lift. Sales in Europe climbed 3%, while Asia and the rest of the world saw a modest 1% growth. Pernod Ricard notes that India, which had been a growth driver, grew just 1% in the year, held back by dem

Nigerian Bottling Company (“NBC”), the bottler of Coca-Cola products in Nigeria hosted the fifth pilot Energy Efficiency Network (EEN) workshop for industries in Nigeria. The event took place at the company’s Ikeja, Lagos plant on 17th August 2017, and attracted industry stakeholders and participants from other companies in the network and engaging in a series of practice-driven discussions focused on energy efficiency and aimed at supporting the participating companies to identify opportunities for sustainable energy cost savings. Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), underscored the need for energy efficiency in the sector, stating that energy cost account for up to 40% of production cost in some sectors in the eco