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Tag: Promasidor Nigeria Limited

  • Promasidor signs pact with Ekiti

    Promasidor Nigeria Limited has signed a partnership agreement with Ekiti State Government to drive its backward integration initiative aimed at creating local source of raw materials for its dairy products through the state-owned Ikun Dairy Farm.

    The pact was sealed on behalf of the partners by the Ekiti State governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, and the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Anders Einarsson, in Abuja, last month.

    This project will enable Promasidor utilise the potential of Ikun Dairy Farm in the making of milk and other products of nutritional value which help to enhance human growth.

    Commenting on the agreement, Fayemi stated that Ekiti State was delighted to collaborate with a major player in the fast-moving consumer goods sector that is deeply committed to the wellbeing of consumers through its array of quality products.

    The governor affirmed that the partnership would enhance the backward integration initiative of Promasidor, in compliance with federal government’s directives that companies should seek local source of raw materials for their products, thus ensuring local content development.

    Fayemi disclosed that Ikun Dairy Farm, established in 1980 with hundreds of fattened cows, could serve as a source of milk supply to produce evaporated milk and other nutritional products, create more employment opportunities and increased nutritional products.

    In his remark, Einarsson, who was highly elated with the progress made on backward integration, said Ikun Dairy Farm would in no small measure provide opportunities to enhance local milk production, an exciting opportunity for the company.

    He affirmed that as the maker of quality products such as Cowbell Milk, Loya Milk, Cowbell Chocolate, Miksi, Top Tea, Onga food seasoning, Sunvita Cereals, and others, local source of milk collection is paramount to ease less dependence on foreign raw materials.

    The Promasidor boss corroborated Fayemi’s view that the partnership would also lead to further employment and other viable source of livelihood for people in the state.

    He explained that Promasidor’s backward integration initiative would give the company an edge over others in the dairy market with the potential of the farm.

    Ikun Dairy Farm spans across 1,000 hectares of land area. Located in Ikun-Ekiti, in Moba Local Government Area, the farm was established in the early 1980s as an integrated agro-allied farm to boost the economy of the state.

  • One Love Family Fest: Promasidor holds Mini Marathon for Children

    Promasidor Nigeria Limited recently had a mini marathon for children from 50 schools in Lagos in commemoration of this year’s Children’s Day. The mini marathon kicked off at the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, Alausa, where the children ran through the Lagos State House of Assembly complex to terminate at the park.

    It was part of the celebration for children at the event tagged Promasidor One Love Family Fest.

    The first category was for children between the ages of 5-8years old, who ran in the 1.5 kilometres race while the second was for those within 9-12years old who partook in the 3.4 kilometres race. The third category was for children between 13-15 years old who participated in the 4.4kilometres race.

    The maiden edition of the One Love Family Fest by Promasidor, makers of Cowbell Milk, Loya Milk, Miksi Milk, Top Tea, Onga, and Sunvita Cereal was endorsed by the Lagos State Sports Commission, whose officials were present to conduct the mini marathon.

    It was an enjoyable event for the children, and they expressed delight for being exposed to a mini-marathon at their early stage, a situation that would spur interest in sports in future. Gifts such as school bags, writing materials and products were given as reward to winners, both in the boys and girls category.

    Read Also: Wema marks Children’s Day with kiddies contest

    Elated for being the overall winner in the 4.4 kilometres race, Sulaiman David, a student of Wonder Gate College, Agbado, said the marathon was fun for him. “I am pleased that Promasidor has put this together for us to experience what a mini marathon is all about,” he stated.

    David Chukwudi, a student of Morality College, Egbeda, could not hide his feelings as he lifted his gifts in excitement saying, Promasidor has done well for children. “I am happy for being given these gifts,” he said.

    While presenting the medals to the winners, the Marketing Manager, Promasidor Nigeria Limted, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji said it was part of the company’s effort in celebrating children as it is a household of brands that caters for the needs of the family.

  • Promasidor donates to orphanages

    In commemoration of the World Milk Day celebrated globally recently, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, Onga, Top Tea, Loya Milk and other quality brands, has donated products to five orphanages in Lagos.

    The beneficiaries are S.O.S. Children’s Village, Isolo; Bethlehem Charity and Orphanage Centre, Ikotun; Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice, Surulere; Heritage Homes, Anthony Village; and Change a Life Foundation, Maryland.

    Receiving the items, which were Cowbell Milk and Cowbell Chocolate, the General Manager of Heritage Homes, Mrs. Vivian Osuntokun, commended Promasidor for identifying with the less-privileged people in the society and assisting the organisation to meet its obligation to the children under its care.

    She said: “We are excited about the support. This will go a long way in helping us to meet the nutritional requirements of the children. What this shows is that Promasidor truly cares about the wellbeing of the less-privileged members of the society. We look forward to other organisations to take a cue from what the company has done.”

    Co-founder of Bethlehem, Mr. Olowoyeye Bayo, also described the gesture by Promasidor as considerate and timely, adding: “It shows that Promasidor is concerned about the future of Nigerian children.

    “For remembering Nigerian orphans on the occasion of the World Milk Day, the company has shown that it truly cares. Apart from sending products, its staff made out time to come to play with the children and their caregivers. That is thoughtful, caring and motivational.

    “Sincerely, we need this kind of support to realise that we are not alone on this journey. It will also reduce the burden of providing for the needs of the kids because it is challenging doing it alone. We appreciate the effort of the company.”

    The Marketing Manager of the company, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji, said the donation was part of the company’s desire to support Nigeria in building a healthy and happy future. Promasidor, he said, “believes that good nutrition is the right of every Nigerian child.

    “The essence of the World Milk Day is to create awareness on the health and nutritional benefits of adequate milk consumption. There is a daily dietary requirement everybody should meet. For children, meeting this requirement is not only necessary but critical to their mental and physical development.

    “Unfortunately, some people do not have the capacity to meet the requirement. So, we at Promasidor have decided to take the advocacy a step further. We have chosen to give products to a number of orphanages to assist them in meeting the dietary requirements of the children in their care.”

    Promasidor recently extended a similar gesture to malnourished children in internally displaced camps in different parts of Nigeria through Empower 54, a non-governmental organisation.

    The manufacturing company is also involved in different corporate social responsibilities aimed at developing the mental, intellectual and physiological aspects of the Nigerian child. Examples of such initiatives are Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics TV Quiz Show, Promasidor Harness Your Dream (a career guidance initiative) and Cowbell Football Academy.

     

  • Cowbell signs partnership with Supa Strikas

    Cowbell Chocolate, a brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, has entered into partnership with Supa Strikas, an iconic football property for young people.

    Speaking on the deal, the head of Legal/PR, Promasidor Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Enahoro, said the Cowbell Chocolate collaboration would leverage the publication’s monthly comic series and weekly animated TV shows, which premiered last month, to inspire kids and teenagers positively. He noted that the partnership was to reignite courage among young people and help them develop the ‘can-do’ enthusiasm.

    According to him, “This partnership leverages the serialized comic strips, which is released monthly as well as the comic TV series that started showing on dedicated TV stations across the country recently.

    “The story of Supa Strikas is that of imagination and doggedness. It is unique but familiar, daring but interesting. Young people are capable of achieving any feat, and we must develop this capacity positively. Somebody must inspire them to think beyond what they see as limitations. This comic series is a positive inspiration.”

    Enahoro further said: “We at Promasidor Nigeria have always identified with initiatives and ideas that help children and youths to positively harness their potential, hence we are part of this noble initiative. This partnership is about changing the narrative. Our kids deserve a mode edifying upbringing.”

    The Marketing Manager of Promasidor, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji, added, ”Cowbell Chocolate is fortified with the essential vitamins and iron, giving younger people the energy to ‘Get Up N Go’. As part of our brand promise of raising healthy, energetic and fun-loving young kids, we needed to leverage their passion and pass our message ‘Get Up N Go’ succinctly. For us, the Supa Strikas partnership ties seamlessly into what we intend to achieve.”

    The Supa Strikas property debuted in 2001 as a printed comic book series. By 2010, the monthly print run had grown to over 1 million comic books distributed across 19 countries in Africa, Europe, Latin America and South East Asia, making it the largest circulating monthly comic book in the world.

    To coincide with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the first Supa Strikas television series was launched globally. Now in its 6th season, the series airs in over 100 countries and 19 different languages, with a range of top class broadcasters including Disney and Nickelodeon.

    Promasidor Nigeria’s corporate social responsibilities, which target children and youth population, cut across sports, education and capacity building. Some notable ones are Cowbellpedia, Promasidor’s Harness Your Dream, Loya Swim Meet and the Quill Awards.

  • ONGA unveils family TV Show to promote healthy living

    OONGAcious, a television programme sponsored by Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Onga Seasoning, has premiered on TV stations across Nigeria. The show’s three major thrusts are healthy living, culture and food

    According to Promasidor Nigeria Marketing Manager, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji, the programme will inspire the audience to appreciate the health benefits of various indigenous meals and show them how such delicacies could be prepared in a healthy manner.

    “Each episode focuses on a specific city or town, showcasing its rich history, culture, people and traditions,” Ayodeji pointed out.

    The show will also point out the various forms of aerobics, taking the audience through how physical exercise could improve their general wellbeing. The wellness and family talk segments will also examine different lifestyle subjects with a view to teaching families acceptable health tips and social etiquettes.

    Ayodeji, who spoke at the media premiere of the show, said: “We try to promote healthy lifestyle among families, and this is in line with the brand values of Onga. We want to impact the lives of consumers positively.

    “ONGAcious is an all-inclusive family TV show, that highlights the important lessons in healthy lifestyle, culture and culinary. It will showcase the array of local Nigerian meals that can be prepared in a healthy manner.

    “Each episode exposes viewers to the unique history, traditions and culture of a specific city or town. Apart from the documentary, an individual who is grounded in the culture of the place takes the audience through its history in an engaging manner. The show also shows the audience the array of local foods they can prepare and highlights the health benefits of such delicacies.”

    Brand Manager ONGA, Sophiat Bello said some TV stations, selected from all parts of the country, started airing this month. ONGAcious, according to her, is a pan-Nigerian programme that both young and old would find valuable and educative.

  • Promasidor celebrates 254 employees

    Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, Top Tea, Onga and other quality products, at the weekend, honoured 254 of its employees who have put in several years in its service. The award ceremony, which was held in Lagos, brought together the company’s employees, relatives and distributors from different parts of the country.

    Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Anders Einarsson, told the audience that the awardees were honoured for their commitment, hard work and loyalty to the organisation. He said the celebrated employees, who he urged others to emulate, had grown through the rank and become pillars of Promasidor’’s growth as a result of their exceptional work ethics and positive attitude.

    He stated: “For us at Promasidor Nigeria, the Long Service Award is not just a tradition. It is an opportunity to celebrate and honour our employees for their dedication, hard work, commitment and loyalty to the company. Most of them joined the company at an entry level but grew to the positions of regional sales managers. Such promotions do not come without measurable performances and hard work.

    “At Promasidor, it is about good attitude, hard work and commitment. The awardees have met these standards; hence they have not only remained with us but have also become part of the pillars. The 20-year service awardees joined the company when it was just five years old in Nigeria. What does that imply? They have witnessed the different stages of its growth and transformation.”

    The three categories of awards were 20, 15 and 10 years in service with the beneficiaries evenly distributed among key departments, including sales, marketing, administration, engineering, finance and procurement.

     

     

  • Cowbell boost prize for Cowbellpedia winners

    The 2018 edition of Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz show and the search for the next inventor commenced on a high note on Tuesday in Lagos as Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, announced an expansion of the initiative to mark 20 years relationship of Cowbell and Mathematics.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Mr. Anders Einarsson, Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria, explained to journalists that this year’s prize money has been doubled as winners in both categories would receive N2, 000,000 with an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country for the winners in both categories while 1st and 2nd runners up will receive N1, 500,000 and N1, 000,000 respectively.

    The teachers of the top prize winners will be awarded N500, 000 while those of the first and second runners-up will receive N400, 000 and N300, 000 respectively. The competition is sponsored by Cowbell, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

    In addition, Einarsson informed that the company is launching the Cowbellpedia Academy, a workshop for students and teachers in partnership with a top foreign university to expose participants to new and up-to-date learning techniques required to achieve and improve academic excellence.

    To further sustain the growing interest in Mathematics by the relevant groups, Einarsson disclosed that the company came up with the Cowbellpedia Compendium initiative, which was launched at the event, as part of the 20th anniversary commemorative activities.

    The Cowbellpedia Compendium is a compilation of solved questions from the past Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics TV Quiz Show editions for each category. This is to improve proficiency of students in Mathematics.

    “This Compendium is our 20th anniversary gift to all students across Nigeria and is available both in hard copy and electronic version. Like in the previous editions, the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show is open to students in JSS 3 and SSS 2 from 10 – 18 years of age attending full time secondary education in both public and private schools across Nigeria, entry to the competition is free. The competition is divided into two phases– Stage 1 Qualifying Written Examination and Stage 2 TV Quiz Show. The Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz show is divided into two sections – Stage 1 Qualifying Written Examination and Stage 2 TV Quiz Show.

    “For the Stage 1, we are continuing with the initiative that we started in 2016 for mixed secondary schools to nominate a minimum of two girls for each category to represent such school. This is our own little way of encouraging the girl child to take interest in education especially the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses,” he said. The Promasidor boss also assured that the company would continue to stimulate the interest of young Nigerians in the study of Mathematics as “Cowbellpedia is a demonstration of our commitment.”

  • ‘Why we initiated Quill Media Award’

    ‘Why we initiated Quill Media Award’

    Promotion of professionalism and excellence among media practitioners is the objective of the Quill Media Awards being organised by Promasidor Nigeria Limited. Its Legal Adviser/Public Relations Manager, Mr. Andrew Enahoro, spoke on why the company is funding the maiden awards, its belief in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and plans to celebrate 20 years in the dairy business, among others, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports

     

    Driven by the desire to challenge journalists on how to achieve professionalism and excellence in their jobs, the management of Promasidor Nigeria is funding the maiden Quill media awards as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR). The company’s spokesperson, Mr. Andrew Enahoro said the award was informed by the need to reach out to more journalists and appreciate them.

    “And we have done a bit of research, which informs the categories we have laid out and even the gifts. This is the inaugural edition, so we will take all our mistakes, comments, ideas and criticisms and inject them in subsequent editions,” he added.

    Enahoro said Promasidor is very concerned about Corporate Social Responsibility because CSR is the company’s DNA, which informed the innovation of offering milk in small sachet at affordable cost to all.

    “Over time, we have structured our CSR initiatives in line with our strategy to position our brands. Thus for our CSR involvement in the education sector, we have developed the National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC). We are also involved in the health sector and we have donated incubators and other medical equipment to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. This is going to be replicated in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

    “We are also targeting sports through our cowbell football initiative. Our desire is to get youths off the streets and identify talents who could be developed. This is being handled by one of our partner and rector, Godwin Dudu-Orumen under the Cowbell Football Academy,” he said.

    He noted that beyond promotion of sports and education, Promasidor is on the verge of providing its host community with a water treatment plant, which commissioning is being delayed because we needed a protected site.

    On how Promasidor will mark its 20 years in business in Nigeria, Enahoro said the anniversary, which is symbolic would be celebrated if not for other reasons, but for surviving the inclement business environment in the past 20 years. He cited the historic June 12, 1993 crisis through series of bombings to the oil subsidy crisis of last year January as enough reasons to mark the company’s 20 years of operation.

    “Twenty years in the life of an individual is a landmark and is symbolic. In Promasidor, we are going to celebrate it. Going down memory lane, we started when there was so much agitation for a return to civil rule. But that did not deter the founders and owners of the company from setting it up. Since then we have gone though a lot.

    “The nation was thrown into needless subsidy crisis in January last year. That stopped our operations for the month, but unlike some other companies, though we couldn’t produce, we paid all our workers rather than deducting their salary for the strike period or converting it to their annual leave. Also, during the year, our workers also went on a month long strike. We have hardly sorted that out when about 26 states of the federation was overtaken by flood. This was compounded by the clock of insecurity thrown around the nation by the Boko Haram Islamic sect which made the North east and indeed the entire North a no go area,” he noted.

    He stressed that such is bad business for the company because the ‘North is our major market and a gateway to neighbouring countries. Our vehicles were not able to move freely especially in the Northeast and those who offer to go there give strident conditions and this led to increase in insurance premium payments.’

    He however added that in all of these, the company was able to recover its losses and maintain prices because it is interested in making sure that it gets nutrition to as many consumers as possible. “We have worked with the mind and the strength of our dedicated staff and also the minds and strength and dedication of the owners of the company. It is a team work. We intend to go to town and celebrate this feat because it is something to ginger the people who have brought this dream to life…The company would also want to celebrate deserving employees. This year, we have over 460 workers who are celebrating over 10 years in the company, that itself is monumental,” he said.

    On how the NASSMAC initiative is meeting the goals of improving mathematics education in the country, Enahoro said:

    “NASSMAC is in its 13th year and it is meeting set goals. We have been keeping tabs on our winners. One in particular has authored a mathematics text book – this is a young man who is less than 21 years, that sort of thing is what we look forward to.

    “The bulk of the winners are still in the universities and some are just about to graduate and start working. So, it’s early to start measuring the impact of the competition. But, be rest assured that we are monitoring them and we keep encouraging them.”

     

  • Insecurity: Firms face shrinking markets

    The spate of violence, kidnappings and civil unrests is hampering corporate growth and precluding companies from exploring nationwide market opportunities.

    Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Chief Keith Richards, said the disruptions caused by the gale of insecurity across several states were impacting negatively on companies’ turnovers.

    According to him, companies cannot distribute extensively to nooks and crannies of the country due to the violence in the North and kidnappings in the East.

    Expressing the private sector’s concerns at the 18th Nigerian Economic Summit, Richards identified insecurity, corruption and ease of doing business as three key issues adversely affecting businesses in Nigeria besides the low level of infrastructure.

    Reports by quoted companies and confidential operational reports by corporate sources indicated that there has been significant build-up in inventories in several companies while many have had to scale down their operations to counterbalance the shortfall from the Northern market.

    Corporate sources said spate of violence and escalated sense of insecurity that lingered throughout the past business year undermined their forecasts given that the Northern market represented a major segment for nationwide companies.

    An executive at a quoted healthcare company had told The Nation that the company’s low performance in the 2011 business year was due partly to the insecurity in many Northern states.

    According to the executive, the Northern market, which represented about one-third of the company’s sales target, substantially fell below targets while the company’s margin was also reduced due to additional costs related to security.

    The executive said the sales representatives in major states like Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Maiduguri have been forced to relocate to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Particularly hard-hit were companies dealing in perishable and breakable products, which have had to contend with longer transportation schedule and sometimes, seizure and obstruction of delivery trucks.

    Corporate sources also said the insecurity in the Northern market has adversely affected the pool of human capital in that segment as existing and prospective employees now turn down placements in the North.

    Companies have been responding to the Northern market challenge by scaling down Northern operations and optimizing opportunities in other markets.

    Corporate reports by companies which factories and main markets are based in the North appear to mirror the slow down escalated by the spate of violence in the region among other reasons.

    Although companies have largely shied away from publicly highlighting the growing negative impact of incessant violence in the Northern states on their operations for fear of reprisals, executives, who spoke in confidence, stressed the need for quick control of the crisis and restoration of peace in the region to forestall complete shut down of operations.