Doing business in Nigeria could mean different things to different people. To some, it is simply good, judging by the economic reforms this current Federal Government is putting in place and the talents that abound. To others, it is still pretty damn difficult considering the fact that the country still lacks the basic infrastructure with which to fully industralise.

Mr. Kapil Garg, 42, managing director, Friesland Foods WAMCO Nigeria Plc set his foot on Nigeria about four months ago. Within that period, he has come to realise that Nigerians are blessed with a lot of talents. That singular reason, he said, could give the country an edge when compared with other developing countries.

With that statement on Nigeria, Garg knew exactly what he was driving at since he has worked in different parts of the world. He started his career with Cadbury in India as a management staff. After about five years of service with the organisation in different capacities, he moved to Indonesia where he lived for 12 years.

Until his appointment as managing director in Nigeria, he was the director, consumer and trade marketing of Friesian Flag Indonesia and later controller, consumer and trade marketing, West Africa and Middle East based in Holland.

During one of his first public discussions in Lagos, Garg was optimistic that Nigeria is not lacking behind when compared with other developed countries in terms of economic development. As a degree holder in economic finance and masters in business administration (MBA), what is uppermost in Garg's mind and which he considered as the biggest opportunity is to make products and brands available to a larger section of their consumers.

Garg noted that: "In Nigeria, I see a lot of energy, I see a lot of passion, I see a lot of drive. I see people who have associated with the company for many years. It is overall a very strong organisation with wonderful people. There is a lot of opportunities as far as the market in concerned. Nigeria is a big country with a lot of potentials. The country is on the road to next stage of development".

Garg's coming to Nigeria may not be regarded as a tea party affair, consideing the fact that he is faced with a lot of challenges on how to reach the top of about 25-30 per cent of their product consumers. And that challenge appears simple in making good quality nutrition available and at affordable prices to the people. This, he said, could not be done tomorrow but now.

To actualise the dream of providing quality nutrition to most Nigerians, Garg is of the view that when other bodies such as the government and non-governmental organisations are involved, they will be able to reach more people. Of course this view was brought to the fore during the Peak Pen Award Luncheon held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotels, recently.

Mr. Frank Nweke Jr, Minister of Information and National Orientation pointed out at the occasion that if the organisation could collaborate with government, there would be able to cover much grounds and reach a lot of people with quality nutrition. He was represented at the occasion by Mrs. Mary Ojike, the Lagos Liaison officer of the ministry. The minister described the company's nutrition crusade as a worthy corporate social responsibility initiative.

Even before now, WAMCO has devised a lot of means to sensitise the public on quality nutrition for children, especially. The Olu Akinkugbe Child Nutrition Centre is one example. The Foundation serves as a reference center that provides the most up-to-date information on nutrition with a strong link to the use of African ingredients.

It also provides information on child nutrition initiatives all over the world, information on healthy living for mothers and children of various age groups and focus on dairy/dairy related products.

The name of the foundation was derived from Chief Olu Akinkugbe, former chairman of Friesland Foods WAMCO Nigeria. He retired from the board and to honour him, a Child Nutrition Centre was established in his name.

The Centre is expected to provide up-to-date information on child nutrition to the public and to mothers and children, Health Care Practitioners and educational institutions. It will also undertake programmes and activities to enhance the nutritional status of the society with special emphasis on mothers and children.

Another strategy WAMCO employed to reach out and to sensitise the society on quality nutrition was the Peak Pen Nutrition Writing competition organised for journalists.

The competition which was flagged off December last year was designed to promote corporate social responsibility and bring to the forefront the issue of healthy nutrition in Nigeria. The competition received a total of 518 entries, out of which 104 were submitted to the panel of judges for final consideration.

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