Global Chief Executive Officer of consumer health and hygiene company RB (Reckitt Benckiser), Mr. Rakesh Kapoor, has said that RB’s vision for Nigeria is a nation where people are healthier and live better. According to him, RB will continue in making a difference by giving Nigerians innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes.
Mr. Kapoor who was on a working visit to Nigeria said this in Lagos during a visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. He said RB has been in Nigeria for over five decades, adding that he is very happy with the operations of the company in Nigeria which he described as one of the most important growth markets and the reference point for other African business development growth strategies.
“RB’s heritage in Nigeria spans over 53 years with health, hygiene and home portfolio led by global brands like Dettol, Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Durex, Dettol, Harpic, Mortein, and Air Wick. Nigeria also serves as the West African hub driving business development, opening up new markets and portfolio expansion across the West African Coast,” he said.
Speaking on the company’s vision for Nigeria and other emerging markets, Kapoor said RB is creating a long term model for success which includes educating millions of children and families on better hygiene. “RB has a long term vision for Nigeria to set more ambitious goals on how Dettol plays a larger role in diarrhea prevention and Mortein in malaria prevention. We also plan to bring right innovations to support the government to improve health and hygiene habits across Nigeria.” he added.
Kapoor told the governor how RB through brands like Dettol, Mortein and Harpic has been partnering with the Federal / Lagos State Ministry of Health, Nigerian Medical Association and Save the Children on programmes to create awareness on best hygiene practices.
“RB is committed to raising £35 million over four years to launch a ground-breaking and sustainable ‘Save a Child a Minute’ programmes to help eradicate child deaths from diarrhea in three main markets. Nigeria and India are getting a substantial part of the fund followed by Pakistan,” he said.
He added that every year Dettol reaches over one million new moms in hospitals and one million school children through hand washing programmes in schools to reduce infant deaths and improve maternal health through its Dettol grassroots hygiene programmes.
Speaking on investment opportunities in Nigeria, Kapoor said Nigeria’s new government has a great opportunity to assure investors that nothing would harm their confidence in investing in Nigeria for the long term. He advised that the Nigerian government should have more progressive and open economic policies because Nigeria has the potential to be a massive magnet for investment.
Responding, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode expressed his pleasure in receiving the RB Global Group CEO and his team, commending them for the leadership role the company has been playing to ensure a germ-free environment in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.
Accompanied the Global Group CEO on his visit to the Governor’s office were Mr. Alan Thompson, Senior Vice President RB, Africa; Mr. Rahul Murgai, General Manager RB West Africa; and Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili, Marketing Director RB West Africa.
