CAPITAL MARKET

University Press assures shareholders of return to profitability

DESPITE the negative impact of the economic challenges on its business, the board of University Press Plc has assured its shareholders of return to profitability.

Speaking at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Ibadan at the weekend, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of University Press Plc, Mr Samuel Kolawole, assured shareholders that the company will pull through the economic challenges and return to profitability in no distant future.

He said: “The effects of the Federal Government’s twin policies of floating the exchange rate of the naira and the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products threw the economy into a tailspin of unprecedented difficulties.

“While these policies were well-intended and could give rise to positive outcomes in the future, they have had devastating effects on the operations and profitability of many hitherto successful companies in Nigeria.

“While our company managed to improve on its year-on-year performance in terms of turnover despite the serious challenges, the bottom line was negatively impacted by the unprecedented fall in the value of the country’s currency, the naira. This resulted in our company declaring a loss.”

The Chairman of the company, Obafunso Ogunkeye, noted that despite the challenges, the company has recorded a turnover of N2.63 billion for the fiscal year 2023/2024, marking a significant increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year’s N2.16 billion.

The growth, according to him, was a testament to the company’s sales strategies and the enduring dandy for its products, particularly in the educational sector, which continues to drive its revenue.

Ogunkeye further noted that the financial landscape was not without its hurdles. The company incurred a loss of N157.73 million after tax for the year, largely due to foreign exchange loss of N388.20 million in the amount owed to one of its foreign suppliers as of March 31, 2024.

READ ALSO: Ebonyi: Court sentences man to death over motorcycle, phone theft

Recent Posts

APM Terminals, Apapa playing games with empty container evacuation —MSC

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has refuted claims made by APM Terminals Apapa that due…

19 minutes ago

Universities must recognise Librarians as key in delivery of quality education —NOUN VC

The Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi Peters, has…

34 minutes ago

Migration from paper-pencil mode to computer-based WAEC, NECO exams misplaced priority —Stakeholders

Some stakeholders in the education sector have expressed concerns about the plan of the Federal…

44 minutes ago

Govt should implement, enforce policies against plastic misuse —NIEE

The Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) has advised that the government should implement and…

59 minutes ago

Six years of enduring impact and the journey to the future

In the grand theatre of time, six years may seem like a mere flutter of…

2 hours ago

Early onset of kidney disease call for national renal care policy implementation

PRESIDENT of the Nigerian Association of Nephrologists and the Transplant Association of Nigeria, Professor Olugbenga…

2 hours ago