ECONOMIC analysts as well as marketing experts have postulated that poor countries remain poor because markets and brand owners do not foster the structural transformation that is needed for market expansion. They also pointed out that the best way less endowed nations can battle the challenges of unemployment and its concomitant social malaises like crime, forced migration, waste of manpower, reduction in investment and poverty is to speedily promote industrialisation for sustainable growth. How soon Nigeria becomes industrialised and rise above these problems depends on how best it develops and deploys her huge industrial layouts so that millions of knowledgeable and skilled Nigerians are gainfully employed.
Through industrialisation, a country like Nigeria will be able to conserve foreign exchange by reducing on imports. Without doubt, it is obvious that what Nigeria and other African nations need presently is effective industrialisation. It is from this light that efforts made by corporate organisations like Nigerian Breweries Plc toward the economic development of Nigeria and its people through direct investment should be highly commended.
Identifying the impact industries make in development, Nigerian Breweries Plc, foremost brewer of quality brands, only recently commissioned her new ultra-modern Aba Brewery Expansion in Aba, Abia State. The project gulped N18 billion.
The event, which showcased the company’s relationship with the government and people of the state, was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga who commissioned the plant on his behalf; the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji; member of the House of Representatives representing Aba North and South, Hon. Uzor Azubuike; Secretary to the Abia State Government, Commissioners, Service Chiefs, Traditional Rulers and key distributors.
Speaking at the event, President Jonathan disclosed that Nigerian Breweries has restated its unshakable resolve to power and support the economic developmental goal of Nigeria with the investment of N18 billion through the expansion of the Aba Brewery. He stated that it was also a clear indication that Nigeria and Abia State was safe for business, having created over 279, 000 direct and indirect employment for Nigerians which include 250 farmers. Eighty Five per cent of this, he added, was attributed to production.
In his remarks, Governor Theodore Orji stated that the project shows a perfect partnership between the government and private investors, owing to the tangible achievement of his administration in fighting insecurity in the state.
He enjoined the people of the state to continue to support the company, noting that the expansion of Nigerian Breweries’ investment in the state would enhance direct and indirect employment, increase revenue generation to local, state and federal governments, while further assisting in the improvement of the standards of living of the people.
Chairman of the company, Chief Kola Jamodu, stated that the expansion project was a reflection of the company’s bold confidence, not only in Abia State and the entire Eastern Nigeria, but also in Nigeria as an investment destination.
“Our company started business in 1946 in Lagos as Nigeria’s first brewing company. In 1949, the first bottle of Star beer was produced. Aba Brewery was commissioned in 1957 and today starts another milestone in our company’s socio-economic developmental journey with Eastern Nigeria,” he noted.
He added that over the years, the company had been very active in supporting Nigeria’s national development aspirations. This was exemplified by its continuous identification and response to major challenges confronting the nation through corporate social investments, especially in the areas of education, environment, water, youth empowerment, talent development and sports, among others.
The Managing Director, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, pointed out that as Nigeria’s pioneer and leading brewing company, the commissioning was, in a sense, an opportunity to showcase another example of Nigerian Breweries Plc’s long-standing and continuing commitment to ‘Winning with Nigeria’ through “our investments, our footprint, our people and our socio-economic impact. This journey, which commenced with the registration of our company in 1946, continues today with a footprint of 11 breweries and two malting plants strategically spread out cross Nigeria.”
He added: “Aba Brewery commenced operations in 1957 with an initial installed capacity of 500,000 hectoliters per annum which later increased to 1.2 million hectoliters per annum. The Brewery reconstruction and expansion project which began in 2012 was completed in 2014 at a cost of N18 billion. It makes Aba Brewery the most modern brewery in Nigeria and simultaneously doubles the technical capacity at the brewery to 2.4 million hectoliters per annum.”
