The Global Chief Executive Officer of the world’s leading consumer health and hygiene company, RB (formerly Reckitt Benckiser), Rakesh Kapoor, said RB’s Vision for Nigeria is where people are healthier and live better.
Kapoor said RB will continue making the difference by giving Nigerians innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes.
Kapoor, who was on a working visit to Nigeria, said this in Lagos during a visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.
He said RB has been in Nigeria for over five decades adding that he is very happy with the operations of the company in Nigeria which he described as one of the most important growth markets and the reference point for other African business development growth strategies
He said: “RB’s heritage in Nigeria spans over 53 years with health, hygiene and home portfolio led by global brands like Dettol, Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Durex, Dettol, Harpic, Mortein, and Air Wick. Nigeria also serves as the West African hub driving business development, opening up new markets and portfolio expansion across the West African Coast.”
Kapoor went on to disclose to the governor how RB through its power brands, Dettol, Mortein and Harpic, has been partnering with the Federal and Lagos State Ministries of Health, the Nigerian Medical Association and Save the Children NGO on programmes to create awareness on best hygiene practices.
Speaking specifically on Dettol’s commitment to increase awareness around the importance of adopting healthy hand washing habits among children, Kapoor disclosed that the Dettol School Hygiene Programme, which was launched in 2009, has reached more than 3.9 million children since inception with various education materials and school visits to enlighten the pupils on the importance of personal hygiene
“Every year Dettol reaches over one million new moms in hospitals and one million school children through hand washing programmes in schools to reduce infant deaths and improve maternal health through its Dettol grassroots hygiene programs,” said Kapoor.
In addition to that, the ‘Stop Diarrhea’ programme, initiated in Nigeria in partnership with Save the Children NGO, has commenced work in Lagos State, specifically Shomolu Local Government Area, to reduce the prevalence of diarrhea under the ‘Stop Diarrhea Programme’ intervention to help eradicate child deaths from this prevalent ailment.
Kapoor said Shoumolu LGA is a regional test, which will be extended to other LGAs across Lagos State.
Ambode expressed his pleasure in receiving the RB Global Group CEO and his team commending them for the leadership role the company has been playing to ensure a germ free environment in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general. He stated that every home in Lagos has and uses at least one RB product like Dettol Antiseptic Liquid and Dettol Soap, Harpic Toilet Liquid and Mortein Insecticide. He also commended the company on the various initiatives carried out to support the people of Nigeria and Lagos especially in the areas of eradicating malaria in Lagos State through its recent research project being carried out in Kosofe Local Government area of the state and through the Stop Diarrhea Intervention Program in Shomolu Local government
Governor Ambode then promised the CEO that his areas of concern will be looked into by his administration within a shortest period of time also adding that a company like RB is what the State government needs to support its developmental programs of alleviating the pains of the ordinary man in the areas of health, education and employment of youth and children in Lagos State.
Those who accompanied Kapoor on his visit to the Governor’s office were Alan Thompson, Senior Vice President RB, Africa; Rahul Murgai, General Manager RB West Africa; and Oguzhan Silivrili, Marketing Director, RB West Africa.
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