The Governor
of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, paid a courtesy call and guided facility
tour of the company’s state-of-the-art factory in Ibadan, Oyo State yesterday.
Addressing
newsmen after the guided tour, Ajimobi acknowledged the different contributions
of the company in the State and stated that he was delighted about the feedback
from the people.
BATN established a world class factory in 2003, the factory currently
exports to a total of 16 countries. The Oyo State government will continue to
play our part to attract legitimate businesses to our state by creating an
enabling environment for legitimate businesses to thrive. By doing so, we are both
fulfilling the promises that we made to our people as well as businesses and we
will not relent until we make Oyo State a haven for investors.” the Governor
said.
Gretton
recalled that BAT has had a presence in Nigeria for nearly a century. He noted
that the company takes pride not only in how the business is conducted.
According to him, the management of BATN also pays premium attention to
building a mutually beneficial relationship with its stakeholders at different
levels.
Gretton also noted that BATN has
partnered with the Oyo state government over the years, stating that the
company’s foundation has about 14 projects in the state. He said four of the
projects are agriculture-based.
Also speaking during the visit, Corporate and
Regulatory Affairs Director (CORAD) BAT West Africa, Freddie Messanvi recalled
that over the years, the BATN through the British American Tobacco Nigeria
Foundation, has been involved in developmental programmes ranging from
education to vocational skills development, potable water supply, environmental
protection as well as agriculture-based initiatives that are in support of the
Millennium Development Goals.
“In Oyo state, BATNF has made
significant investments in the development of agriculture with the provision of
technical assistance to farmers in the form of agricultural inputs and
enlightenment campaigns. BATNF also provides training to develop knowledge and
skills of farmers in order to enable them become more profitable. The
agri-business education initiative by BATNF helps to educate youths on the benefits
and opportunities of agriculture in order to address the growing concern on the
aging farming generation,” Messanvi stated.
He stated that maize, cassava and
vegetables as agric-produce areas that BATNF have been supporting farmers in
the state, adding that the goal of the BATNF is to eradicate poverty and build
capacity such that, farmers would eventually grow to become self sufficient.
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