Yemisi Izuora.
Procter and Gamble has reiterated its commitment to improving lives of Nigerians particularly in the communities where it operates in.
In the last 25 years of its operation in the country, the company has deepened its social investments touching over 3Million Nigerians annually in health and education programs such as the UNESCO Always Programme which is providing 110,000 girls in the North Eastern part of the country with basic Education.
Speaking on the company’s 25th years anniversary Director of Brands for P&G Nigeria Tolulope Adedeji said: “We are proud that over the years, not only have we introduced great brands for the satisfaction of our consumers, we have also engaged in projects that address social issues, like our Always School Program through which has equipped millions of young girls within ages 10 – 12 with information about personal and puberty hygiene. This has resulted in the reduced rate of their absence in school and an increment in their confidence level and we are excited about our partnership with MercyCorps to educate more girls on Menstrual Hygiene Management”.
Adedeji further said that the P&G Women’s Entrepreneurial Development Programme has built the capacity of Women-Owned Businesses while its Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program has provided over 175 million litres of clean drinking water in the country amongst others.
Since commencing operations in Nigeria in 1992, P&G has invested millions of dollars in its various manufacturing sites located in Ibadan, Oyo State and Agbara, Ogun State respectively.
The anniversary which was commemorated at an event in Junior Secondary School, Karu, Abuja on Tuesday, 20th February, 2018 had in attendance, Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Dolapo Osinbajo. Also in attendance were: Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, First Lady of Kebbi State and Zainab S. Ahmed, Honourable Minister of State for Budget and National Planning amongst other top dignitaries and key stakeholders.
The Managing Director of the Company, Mr. George Nassar in his remarks applauded the good work done in the last 25 years and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to contributing to the Nigerian economy. ‘We have achieved this through our commitment to invest in Nigeria and to provide superior products that satisfy the needs of our consumers. We have dedicated ourselves to 25 years of product innovation and manufacturing efficiencies to provide our consumers with the highest quality of household products. At this stage, it is important for us to take a look at where we started, what we have accomplished, and what our plans are for the future”, he stated.
As part of activities to mark this 25-year milestone, P&G announced its partnership with MercyCorps, an international not-for-profit organization, through its Always Keeping Girls in School (AKGIS) programme. This significant intervention is targeted at enhancing girls’ knowledge and practice around reproductive health through life skills training, provision of emergency sanitary kits and mobilization of stakeholders’ support for Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for girls in schools.
P&G expanded its company’s reach into Nigeria in 1992 with the acquisition of Richardson Vicks manufacturing plant in Ibadan and currently provides six strong portfolios of innovative brands namely, Pampers, Ariel, Always, Oral-B, Gillette, Safeguard in the Nigerian Market.