Economy
Guinness Nigeria Unveils 2016 Sustainability Report, Outlines Future Goals
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nigeria’s foremost total beverage alcohol company, Guinness Nigeria Plc, has released its Sustainability Report for 2016, reporting its performance on various aspects of its operations, while outlining its sustainability targets for the future.
The report was unveiled in Lagos on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at a formal ceremony attended by various stakeholder groups and partners such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), The Lagos Business School, Water Aid, Institute for Industrial technology (IIT) and Diageo’s Global Sustainable Development Director, David Croft amongst others.
The Sustainability report, titled, Sustainability: From Grain to Glass, is an 87 paged report that covers “our performance in the reporting year July to June, 2016, and focuses on material issues critical to the sustainability of our business.
“We consider an issue material if it could potentially have a significant impact on our business performance or our business leadership position. The report also captures the strategy we will be leveraging to achieve the Sustainable Development goals we have set out to attain,” excerpts from the report stated.
It further added, “Every year, we set ourselves stretching targets that will guide us as we work to reduce our negative impact on the environment.
“We also strive to increase our positive social impact by delivering transformational social investments in communities where we operate. This report captures our achievements in the 2016 financial year.”
Managing Director/CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Peter Ndegwa noted that the overarching ambition of the company is to become the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer Products Company in the world.
He further observed that the attainment of this goal will be futile if a commitment to society is not at the heart of the business.
“The Sustainability Report we are here to launch today is one of the ways we measure our progress against the sustainability and responsibility targets we have set for our organization.
“The report also serves as an expression of our continuing commitment to embedding sustainability into our daily interactions and operations,” he said.
Mr Ndegwa said Guinness remains committed to helping Nigeria meet her Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, especially in the area of providing access to water and sanitation for the majority of the people. In this regard, the company has made significant investments, he disclosed.
Mr David Croft, Global Sustainable Development Director, Diageo Plc said: “Overall we are proud of the progress made. Guinness Nigeria’s Sustainable Development strategy which aligns with Diageo’s global strategy is underpinned by three main pillars: Leadership in alcohol in society, building thriving communities and reducing environmental impact. Delivering on these goals is an integral part of our long term business strategy and our commitment to making a real difference in communities where we operate.”
Major highlights from the 2016 report include notable social investments in the Guinness Eye Hospitals, the flagship Water of Life scheme and the Undergraduate Scholarship scheme, which has opened doors of opportunity to many young Nigerians.
Guinness Nigeria also continued to make notable economic impact in Nigeria. In the 2016 financial year, the company paid over N16 billion in taxes ranging from VAT, employee taxes, Corporate Income Tax, Excise Duties and other taxes
Moving forward, the company outlined strategic objectives the attainment of which will put it in better stead to serve its key stakeholders as well as help to strengthen corporate reputation and build a sustainable business.
In the area of business performance, the company aims to optimize return on investment for its investors and shareholders through good corporate governance and by implementing the plans that underpin its performance ambition. Product quality will be sustained through unwavering commitment to providing consumers with beverages that meet the highest standard of quality.
In the area of innovation, the company said it will continue to leverage on its world class innovation platforms to create high quality products for our consumers, while maintaining an enabling work environment for its employees. In the area of environmental performance, the company said it remains committed to ensuring that its products, processes and operations are safe for the environment.
Its corporate social investment will remain focused on impacting lives positively while enhancing the wellbeing of host communities. The company will continue to sustain initiatives that promote responsible consumption of alcohol and prevent underage drinking and also ensure strict adherence to the principles of responsible marketing of its beverage brands.
Economy
NASD Exchange Ends First Trading Week of 2025 Bullish by 0.55%
By Adedapo Adesanya
Seven price gainers ensured that the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange ended the first trading week of the year 2025 in the positive territory, with a 0.55 per cent gain.
In the four-day trading week, the market capitalisation of the bourse went up by N9.74 billion to N1.046 trillion from the N1.036 trillion recorded in the last trading week of 2024, as the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) increased by 16.74 points to finish at 3,052.34 points, in contrast to the 3,035.61 points achieved in Week 52 of last year.
Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc topped the advancers’ chart after it closed higher by 33.3 per cent to close at 20 Kobo per unit versus 15 Kobo per unit, UBN Property Plc grew by 10 per cent to end at N1.98 per share compared with the previous week’s N1.80 share and Air Liquide Plc also gained 10 per cent to end at N8.80 per unit against the former value of N8.00 per unit.
Further, 11 Plc rose by 7.9 per cent to N232.10 per share from N215.00 per share, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc improved by 4.8 per cent to N23.05 per unit from N22.00 per unit, Food Concepts Plc jumped by 1.3 per cent to close at N1.60 per share versus N1.58 per share, and Geo-Fluids Plc appreciated by 0.8 per cent to N4.89 per unit versus N4.85 per unit.
On the flip side, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc shed 9.3 per cent to N39.76 per share from N43.84 per share, and Acorn Petroleum Plc depreciated by 9.1 per cent to N1.40 per unit from N1.54 per unit.
Last week, the volume of equities transacted went down by 41.8 per cent to 12.44 million units from 21.37 million units, the value of securities traded by investors slumped by 46.7 per cent to N61.62 million from N115.8 million, and the number of deals declined by 30.99 per cent to 49 deals from 71 deals.
FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc was the busiest stock in the week by value with N55.8 million, IGI Plc recorded N2.1 million, 11 Plc posted N1.5 million, CSCS Plc traded N1.1 million, and Geo-Fluids Plc recorded N0.59 million.
By volume, IGI Plc topped with 55.8 million units, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc transacted 1.4 million units, UBN Property Plc recorded 0.276 million, Geo-Fluids Plc traded 0.120 million units, and CSCS Plc exchanged 0.047 million units.
Economy
Ardova, Heyden to Sell Dangote Petrol, Diesel at Lower Prices
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nigerians may soon begin to purchase petroleum products at the retail stations of Heyden Petroleum and Ardova Plc across Nigeria at lower prices.
This is because the two players in the nation’s downstream petroleum sector have entered into a bulk purchase agreement with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Recall that a few weeks ago, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc sealed a deal with Dangote Refinery, enabling it to sell premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, at N935 per litre across all its stations nationwide, addressing the long-standing issue of price disparities between states.
This action pushed the share price of MRS Oil at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited to a new 52-week high last Friday, as investors became increasingly optimistic about the company’s future earnings prospects.
Propelled by the economic relief provided by President Bola Tinubu’s crude-for-naira swap initiative, Ardova Plc and Heyden Petroleum agreed to join Dangote Refinery to bring down the prices of petroleum products.
Reports indicate that the bulk purchase agreement with Dangote Petroleum Refinery will enable both Ardova and Heyden to secure a reliable and consistent supply of petroleum products from the world’s largest single-train refinery, ensuring a stable supply of fuel at competitive prices, benefiting consumers across the country.
The arrangement ensures that Ardova and Heyden will have access to a full range of refined products, thereby securing their operations with a reliable supply chain.
The partnership with Dangote Refinery is poised to have a transformative impact on Nigeria’s oil and gas market. By ensuring a stable and affordable supply of fuel products in the over 1,000 retail outlets of the two companies, the agreement will help to alleviate the recurring issue of fuel scarcity that has long plagued Nigeria.
“This framework will see Ardova Plc offtake a full slate of petroleum products from the refinery. While Ardova Plc has been a significant off-taker from the refinery since its inception, this new framework will institutionalise a more robust relationship between the two companies to further enhance the emerging competitive landscape in the downstream oil and gas industry in the country,” a statement from Ardova stated.
Ardova has been a key off-taker from the Dangote Refinery since its inception, but this new framework is expected to formalise and strengthen the partnership between the two companies, creating long-term benefits for both parties.
The Dangote Refinery, which began production in 2024, has already played a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. Its large-scale operations have helped alleviate the supply pressures that often lead to price hikes and fuel shortages.
Economy
NGX Delists Shares of Flour Mills
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
All shares of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc have been delisted from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited trading platform.
This development was confirmed in a notice issued by the bourse last week to the investing public.
The disclosure was signed by the Head of the Issuer Regulation Department of the NGX, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai.
Before the action was taken, the stock exchange had suspended trading in the shares of the company ahead of its exit from the market.
“We refer to our market bulletin of 16 December 2024 with reference Number: NGXREG/IRD/MB93/24/12/16 wherein the market was notified of the suspension placed on trading in the securities of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc in preparation for the delisting of the company.
“Following the approval of the company’s application to delist its entire issued share capital from Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), please be informed that the entire issued share capital of Flour Mills of Nigeria were on Monday, December 30, 2024, delisted from the daily official list of NGX,” the statement said.
Flour Mills is leaving the local equity market after its majority shareholders agreed to acquire the stocks held by minority investors at N86 per unit.
The organisation is embarking on an ambitious $1 billion investment plan to expand its presence and impact across the African continent over the next four years, which is anticipated to create new opportunities and unlock value for the company, its employees, and economies throughout Africa.
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