When BATN commemorated company’s 20th anniversary

The British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Limited (BATN) factory in Ibadan celebrated its 20th anniversary with a grand event attended by dignitaries and industry leaders. BAT made its initial mark on the shores of Nigeria in 2012 and has since solidified its position as a leading tobacco company in the country. The celebration emphasised BATN’s significant contributions to Nigeria over the past two decades, highlighting its commitment to investment, job creation, sustainability, and production excellence.

The anniversary celebration, held at BATN’s factory premises in Ibadan was attended by the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. ‘SeyiMakinde; Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR; a two-time Minister of Industry, Chief Onikepo Nike Akande, OON, CON; the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulrasheedAdewale Akanbi, former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Chief Kola Jamodu, CFR, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Francis Meshioye, captains of industry and business, and many other royal fathers and esteemed dignitaries.

The Advisory Board Chairman of BAT Nigeria, Chief Kola Karim (the Agbaoye of Ibadanland), in his opening remarks that the state-of-the-art factory has not only served as a beacon of progress but has also played a pivotal role in driving economic growth and prosperity of the country. BATN has over the past two decades shown deep dedication to excellence and innovation and is a true reflection of a multinational which has been a partner in progress with Nigeria since its inception.

He further said “The current government administration has an 8-point agenda to recovery which includes promoting foreign direct investment, job creation and poverty eradication amongst others. BATN is clear proof that it is possible to run a successful business in Nigeria.”

The Managing Director of BAT in West and Central Africa, Yarub Al-Bahrani, in his welcome address said that the heavy investments made by the company in the last two decades have shown that the company is not just in Nigeria to stay but has shown its commitment to continually be a partner in progress with Nigeria.

According to him, BATN has in the last two decades, been at the forefront of manufacturing excellence and has produced high-quality productions that extend across the world. In his words, “It is important to state that BAT Nigeria exports to 11 other West and Central African countries and since January 2024, commenced exporting to the United States of America hereby placing made-in-Nigeria products on the global stage. This has not only boosted Nigeria’s trade presence but has also earned us recognition as a top 10 national exporter by the Central Bank of Nigeria and in 2022 was named the best exporter to African countries by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council”.

Highpoint of the event was the commissioning of a 1.4MW Solar Plant at the Ibadan Factory to showcase its continuous sustainability commitment. This initiative reflects the dedication of BATN to reducing its environmental footprint and transitioning to clean energy solutions.

Reaffirming BATN’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and responsible business practices, Yarub said that the company will continue to partner with Nigeria to build a legacy of success and make a positive difference in the lives of Nigerians.

The Oyo State Governor, Mr ‘Seyi Makinde, hailed BAT Nigeria for attaining a historic milestone in Nigeria, noting that the company has contributed in various ways to the development of the state. He cited examples of BATN’s commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic amongst others and commended the leadership of the company for its immense contributions to Oyo State over the years, promising to sustain the conducive environment in which BAT Nigeria and other companies are operating in the state.

In his words: “You are going to be commissioning a 1.4-megawatt solar plant. This is pretty much in line with our aspirations in Oyo State. For us, energy sufficiency is a big part of this administration. Less than 3km from here, you have the City Gate for the gas coming into Ibadan”.

The governor therefore expressed the state’s readiness to partner with BATN’s Ibadan Plant to achieve the great feat in energy sufficiency.