The Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh has said Nigeria is a very important market and has contributed to the success of the company globally. He made his known during a media parley with the press and top management of the company which took place on Tuesday at Radisson Blu hotel, Ikeja,Lagos.
According to Yaw, Unilever is a long term investor in Nigeria and the company is ready to anticipate the aspirations of the consumers and respond creatively with branded products and services that are good for them and others.
While reiterating his point, Yaw said 85% of the company turnover is manufactured locally so as to build the industrial ecosystem of Nigeria to develop and evolve.
In his words, ’’ Nigeria is the global priority in the market and Nigeria is the fastest growing business in unilever world’’.
He said the company is working with people to build local industrial capability collaborating with industry to transform cassava and other raw materials to producing tooth paste through its ‘’partner to win’’ project.
‘Partner to Win’ is the Unilever Nigeria’s initiative of investing in capabilities of intermediary companies to enable them to convert farm produce to usable goods that will be sourced by the companies as part of their raw materials.
He added that the company’s project, Nigercentricity was born out of the company’s passion to celebrate Nigeria’s culture and build more talents”. It also seeks to understand consumers’ instincts and impulses with a view to building viable brands, adding that “People development is uppermost in anything we do, to expose people to global model’’.
He was also happy that in the history if the company, Nigerians are holding key positions and they can compete globally.
Unilever has over the years leverage its great brands to impact lives positively. In line with its social mission of health and hygiene, through brands like Close Up, Pespodent and Lifebuoy, Unilever has organised various outreach programmes that have enlightened Nigerians on health benefits of hand washing and brushing twice daily.
Unilever is manufacturer, Omo, Sunlight, Knorr, Lipton, Blue Band among others.