Theodore Orji

Kidnapping seems to be taking a toll on businesses in Abia State. But this has not deterred new business from opening shop in the state. However, Governor Theodore Orji says his administration is doing everything to stall the cankerworm. He spoke to  OJIAKU KALU in Umahia, Abia State capital.

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), a United States organisation that facilitates commercial relationship between the U.S. and Africa recently signed an MoU with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). Its president Stephen Hayes in this interview with WILLIAMS EKANEM in Washington D.C gives more insight into the new relationship and talks more on doing business in Nigeria and indeed in Africa. Excerpts:

MY own area of focus is consolidating on the gains of the past, adding tremendous value so that Suzuki will be a household name in this country called Nigeria. We can achieve that through team work, we can achieve that through empowerment of the people, and how do we empower people? We should be able to add value to people that patronize us by giving them qualitative services because through qualitative services you can be sure you have good patronage, and ready purchases.

Dr. Chike Obidigbo is the MD/CEO of Hardis and Dromedas Limited, Enugu, an indigenous manufacturing concern that manufactures a wide range of beauty care, health and hygiene products. A notable industrialist, Obidigbo is a council member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (Man) and a former vice president of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture (Eccima). He took part in all the brain storming sessions aimed at moving Nigeria’s businesses and economy forward. Recently, he spoke to BusinessWorld’s associate editor, CHRIS UBA, on wide-raging issues that bother on the economy, among others. Excerpt.

Adelowo adesola

Mr Adelowo Adesola, managing director of Inlaks Computers Limited, is very passionate about information technology. He believes that the country will move to the next level if both the public and private sectors embrace IT warmly and make it a way of life. He spoke BusinessWorld's team of editors.

Stanislav Vecera

With its annual turnover in excess of $83bn, Procter & Gamble is the world’s top producer of consumer goods. However, its manufacturing footprint on the African continent is limited to the north and west, with plants in Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco. The behemoth says it has a long-term view of Africa, especially Nigeria. Mr. Stanislav Vecera, managing director/CEO for West Africa, said the company would retain its investment in Nigeria in order to continue in serving its customers in the country due to the faith it has in Nigeria. He spoke in Lagos recently to Ray Echebiri, Nik Ogbulie and Chris Uba. Excerpts:

From just training people on how to use computers, Mrs. Florence Seriki now sits atop Omatek Computers, a multi million Naira outfit that not only manufactures computers but other electronic products. Her dream is to export computers to the Western world just the way the West is shipping computers into our country today. And her message is simple: “Start small and you can grow big, very big, provided you know what you want and where you are going”. She spoke to Ray Echebiri, Nik Ogbulie, Abimbola Tooki and Lawson Ovih in her office in Lagos.