Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has honoured resilient businesses that have defied Nigeria’s harsh operating environment to create innovative solutions in various fields of enterprise.
The chamber gave various awards to banks, manufacturers, insurance and pension firms, among others.
DHL Global Forwarding Nigeria Limited received the ‘Reliability in Freight and Logistics’ award for supporting Nigerian businesses in freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution areas of logistics supply chain segment of the economy.
While Mopson Pharmaceutical Limited received an award for ‘Excellence in the Use of Intervention Funds’, Friesland Campina walked off with a prize for ‘High Compliance in Standards and Safety’.
Flour Mills of Nigeria plc and PZ Cussons Nigeria plc shared the award for ‘Impactful Contribution to Economy through Backward Integration’.
Fidelity Bank won ‘SMEs Bank of the Year’ award while Diamond Bank grabbed award as the largest lender to small businesses. The United Bank for Africa won award as the largest lender to the agric sector while Mansard Insurance walked off with an award for ‘Prompt Claim Settlement’.
Receiving the award on behalf of the company, Heather Frankle, managing director, while expressing appreciation to the organisers, said the award could be attributed to dedication and focus of all DHL Global Forwarding’s staff who have driven growth of the firm in the company’s 10–year operations in Nigeria.
Remi Bello, president, LCCI, said the award was conceived to recognise and celebrate deserving corporate organisations that have made significant contributions to the advancement of the Nigerian economy.
Bello said the business environment is harsh, with challenges such as insecurity, funding, weak institutions, corruption and policy characterising it.
“But in spite of this, Nigerian entrepreneurs have remained undeterred and irrepressible. This is a spirit that all countries wish to have. Investors that have remained resolute deserve to be celebrated,” he said.
Nike Akande, deputy president, LCCI, thanked the award sponsors such as Atunda Entertainment, Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System plc, Cornerstone Insurance and Viju Milk, among others.
ODINAKA ANUDU
