Sona Group Nigeria plc, a conglomerate of investments owned by American-Indian investors, has pledged to expand distribution and sales channels used in marketing various products produced by its several manufacturing firms located majorly in Ogun State. This effort will make the group create more direct and indirect jobs this year.
The multi-billion dollar investments grouped under Sona Group Nigeria comprise Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited; Food, Agro and Allied Industries Limited; Golden Auto Engineering and Transport Co. Limited; Shongai Packaging Industry Limited; Shongai Technologies Limited; Sona Agro Allied Foods Limited; Sona Industrial Gases Limited, and Techblow Nigeria Limited.
Speaking in Sango-Otta in Ogun State at the weekend on the activities of the group in the new year, Peter Oyaniyi, the group executive director, noted that Sona Group would deepen its investments in Nigeria by investing more in technology and local raw materials, which in return, increase production capacities of the group and create jobs, thereby strengthening the Nigeria’s economic base.
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Oyaniyi, who said that the group had been in the country over three decades and had been operating under strict government regulations and in accordance with international best practices, said: “We believe that industrialisation remains the best option for solving the country’s youth unemployment and the right path to national greatness.
“In Sona Group Nigeria, we see industrialisation as the key that will free Nigeria from further retrogression. To achieve that, we have to improve on the existing infrastructure as a nation. Sona Group is one of Nigeria’s fastest growing group, a conglomerate which is into spirits, wine, carbonated soft drinks, biscuits, plastic items, packaging, power and real estate.
“It started business in Nigeria decades ago. The Group’s strategy has been to acquire existing sick units and turn them around. After the unit is acquired, we bring in new investments, modern technology, state-of-art machines and modern management techniques that help to turn the business perspective.”
Also, Felix Aighobahi, sales director, Euro Global Foods and Distillers, stated that the Group had concluded arrangements, as part of business growth plan in 2015, to create more indirect jobs through strategic and aggressive establishment of distribution channels using street-by-street approach and increase investment in local raw materials sourcing through farmers’ empowerment.
He however appealed to government to ensure that the country’s policy on agriculture and industrialisation include “establishment of many-side economic structure, modernisation of all sectors of the national economy, enhanced infrastructure to enable manufacturing firms work without or with little challenge,” adding that the nation’s economy would be vibrant if some leverages and incentives were provided by government.
