… commends Governor Soludo on “One Youth Two Skills” initiative
An industrialist, Mr. Don Ebubogu, has expressed optimism that the “One Youth Two Skills” initiative of Governor Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration will produce more skilled workforce that can boost staff strength of many industries operating in and even outside the state.
Speaking when some members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra State Council embarked on facility tour of his company; as part of activities marking the 2023 NUJ Press Week, Mr. Ebubogu, who is the Managing Director of Tiger Foods Limited, said though over 800 persons are already in the employ of the company, more are still needed to increase production and distribution capacities.
Aside shortage of skilled workforce, the Tiger Foods boss identified other challenges facing manufacturing industries to include lack of infrastructure, high cost of production, insecurity, among others, but said that the gains are more.
He said that the fact that over 80 percent of truckloads of “fast-moving” consumer goods that enter the Southeast through Bridge Head Onitsha on daily basis go back empty should challenge more people to see existing gap and consider establishing manufacturing industries in order to create employment opportunities and improve the economy of the state and the nation at large.
On staff welfare, Mr. Ebubeogu said the company, aside demonstrating humanity and safety consciousness at work, including routine health checks, also introduced pension scheme, where staff contribute 5% and management contribute 7%, to ensure that workers save for the future, have sense of commitment and run the company as family business.
On nature and quality of products, Mr Ebubeogu, a trained Food Technologist from the Institute of Food Technology, Chicago, United States of America, said the company blends contemporary and local materials to produce tastes that appeal to both local and international customers, adding that presently, the company is exporting finished products to Ghana and other African countries, and is making in-road to Europe.
Recalling how the company started from their mother’s “Mama put” business in Port Harcourt to become one of the leading indigenous food processing and beverage company in Nigeria, Mr. Ebubogu said Tiger Foods Limited is motivated by the passion for healthy foods to produce a range of spices, seasonings and drinks such as ginger, garlic, thyme and currie powder, tomato mix, and mayonnaise.
The company, according its boss, also produces other products in the line of beverages and herbs such as soft drinks, energy, alcoholic, and spirit including Tiger energy drink, nine herbal drinks, among others.
He said the company is pleased to partner the Anambra State Council of NUJ in sensitizing citizens on the need to make valuable contributions for the good of the society.
In his remark, the Chairman of NUJ Anambra State Council, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, thanked Mr. Ebubogu for his determination to keep the company running despite daunting challenges, adding that the company has helped in creating jobs for the unemployed and improving Anambra State and Nigeria economy.
Credit: Joseph Egbeocha, Ogochukwu Akujieze
