Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has commissioned the brand new Spirits Production Lines of Guinness Nigeria Plc which is the first of its kind to be established by the beverage company.
At the commissioning ceremony yesterday in Benin City, Governor Obaseki, who expressed his age-long personal relationship with and commended the board members of Guinness, tasks companies operating in Nigeria to make use of the current economic recession to embark on backward integration and expand their business economic fortunes.
According to him, “We are very pleased that Guinness is part of the landscape of Benin and Edo State, and has been so since 1974. And so, for us you are a partner, and as the state, we will take our partnership very seriously.”
He emphasized further, “This is a company I am very closed to and I am very fond of, and so, I am quite excited that one of my first official corporate functions as Governor is to commission the new spirits line for the company. Even though the economic environment in Nigeria today is quite challenging and difficult, for us in Edo State, we see opportunities embedded in those challenges.”
On the prospect of partnering with the beverage company, Governor Obaseki explained, “The current economic recession poses opportunities particularly for companies that can backward integrate. So, for us in Edo, we would like to partner with you in our bid to create a minimum of two hundred thousand jobs over the next four years. And the way we hope to accomplish this target is to work with your company and such others which are located here or close by in our agric business plan.
As part of our out-sourcing, we would like to partner with you or your suppliers to make land available, create incentives for production and get a lot of our young people to begin cultivate some of the basic products like cassava and the grains you require for your production process. In so doing, we will also create incentives to ensure that they are competitive in the prices they give to your company,”
Accompanied by Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Barr. Osarodion Ogie, Edo State Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor and the Chief of Staff, Edo State Government, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, Governor Obaseki gave hint that the Ramat Park in Benin City will be christened Guinness Ramat Park.
Commenting at the ceremony, the Chairman of Guinness Nigeria, Mr Babatunde Savage traced the history of the company and commended its growth to the extent of producing variety of products as well as being listed on the London and Nigeria Stock Exchanges.
Mr. Savage said Guinness maintains cordial relationship through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the extent of providing basic social amenities such water and electricity supply as well as health care facility.
Also speaking, the President of Diageo Africa, a partner with Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. John O’Keeffe harped on three prongs comprising commitment, innovation and local raw material sourcing.
In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc Mr. Peter Ndegwa thanked said the company has a existing cordial relationship with Edo State to be sustained, hence he thanked the state governor, government, the company and its distributors and congratulated Governor Obaseki on his election at the polls.
(Observer)
SO! http://ixly.gotoip1.com/comment/html/index.php?page=1&id=561528