South-East hosts NB’s biggest sorghum malting plant
The Nigerian Breweries’ biggest sorghum malting plant in Africa is located in the South-East part of Nigeria.
Four of the 11 investments of the country’s biggest brewer are also situated in the region, the company has disclosed.
“Enugu and the South East Region have consistently played host to big moments for us in Nigerian Breweries,” said Nicolaas Vervelde, managing director/ chief executive officer, Nigerian Breweries (NB) plc, at the unveiling of the world’s biggest promotion poster to launch Gulder National Promotion at Sam Okpara Square in Enugu, last Monday.
“Since the commissioning of our second brewery in Aba in 1957, the South-East has been a solid base to our operations and a veritable home to our brands. Our investments in the region have been such that four of our 11 breweries are sited in the region (Aba, Awo-Omamma, Onitsha and Ama). Our flagship Ama Brewery is here in Enugu State. Additionally, we also have the biggest sorghum malting plant in Africa located in the South East. It is in continuation of this robust relationship with the South East that we are here today in Enugu courtesy of Gulder the Ultimate lager beer,” Vervelde said.
According to NB’s CEO, since the launch of Gulder in 1970 as Nigeria’s foremost lager packaged in a brown bottle, the brand has gone from strength to strength, attaining many firsts, including blazing the innovative trail of being the first beer in the country to be sold in cans.
In 2014, Gulder was renewed in Nigeria’s most innovative beer bottle with a gold neck foil and bold shoulder-embossment, complemented by a new metallised body label with striking double side-embossment, according to him.
“Gulder, the Ultimate, popularly known in Enugu and its environs as ‘Ebubedike’, has a strong masculine look that stands shoulder to shoulder with the men who drink it,” he said.
The event was historic as it marked the unveiling of Gulder’s world biggest poster, which measured 5,367 square metres. The poster dwarfed the hitherto largest poster, measuring 4,793.65 square metres, displayed in India on June 27, 2015..
Nath Agu, a chartered quantity surveyor, confirmed the size of the poster, while Onyekwuluje Ogochukwu, a lawyer, legally affirmed the measurement.
The poster kick-started the 2015 edition of the Gulder National Consumer Promotion.
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, executive governor of Enugu State, who was represented by Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, commissioner for commerce and industry, commended the Gulder brand for the feat.
“Indeed, this is a very momentous feat and I applaud Nigerian Breweries plc, makers of Gulder for choosing Enugu as the take-off point for this milestone event. Enugu has also been one of the most lucrative tourist destinations for businesses. By implication, Enugu will also be in the Guinness book of the world records for hosting this event.
In Enugu, there is a continuous drive from government to provide adequate security for forward-thinking companies like Nigerian Breweries,” Ogbu-Nwobodo said.
According to him, the event has marked Enugu out as an industrial centre, adding that other strong and reputable companies are welcomed to invest in the state.
ODINAKA ANUDU