The NASCO Group Nigeria, on Thursday, inaugurated its new multi-billion Naira cornflakes plant in Jos to tackle nutrition needs particularly Vitamin A deficiency reported among Nigeria populations.
NASCO Group Chairman/CEO, Dr Attia Nasreddin said that the company realised that there was nearly 30 per cent Vitamin A deficiency among children, 19 per cent among pregnant women and 13 per cent among nursing mother’s.
Nasreddin stated that NASCO cornflakes have been endorsed by Nutrition Society of Nigeria as an assured ready-to-eat cereal meal enriched with vitamins.
“This new plant will be a capacity multiplier, allowing us to deliver high quality and affordable cornflakes with all of their natural goodness remaining intact.
“The cornflakes is enjoyed by tens of millions of Nigerians and Sub-Saharan consumers,” he said.
The chairman stated that Nigerian farmers help to safeguard the country’s food security now and in the future.
He said that for many years, NASCO purposefully devoted significant professional and monetary resources to aiding farmers in becoming smarter and stronger at what they do.
He said that many management professionals refer to this supply chain commitment and relationship as ‘backward integration’ but he choose the strategic win-win relationship as ‘forward integration’.
“However, food security in itself is futile if it does not reach Nigerian households.
“Through our cornflakes plant, NASCO foods have worked relentlessly to bridge the gap between Nigerian homes and the inherent goodness of Nigerian maize.
“Our FARM2HOME theme is not a fancy catchphrase. To us, it is a genuine movement in which we have worked hard to ensure that every Nigerian family may enjoy the natural benefits of cornflakes.
“The cornflakes helps to raise the standard of living for a healthier and better quality of life,” he added.
He expressed optimism that after hearing NASCO narrative, the company’s investors, bankers, and financial institutions would share its trust in the enormous commercial potential of the new venture.
Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong commended NASCO Group which was established in 1963 for its resilience and commitment in impacting on the Plateau economy.
Lalong who inaugurated the plant said that it was great honour for him to be personally inaugurate of a brand new production plant of one of the most successful industries in Nigeria.
“As a Government, we recognise that this desire is very much in line with NASCO’s mission to be a major driver of economic prosperity and social progress, and to bring about a reality where millions of Nigerians can live a high-quality life.
“It has therefore been imperative to play our part as a Government to provide an enabling environment for the private sector to pursue these ideals.
“No society can make any meaningful progress without the active and productive participation of major private sector partners like NASCO.
“This multi-billion Naira investment as I understand was supported by the Bank of Industry through First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
“The level of this investment is encouraging and demonstrates the depth of the local and wider national markets for NASCO cornflakes.
“It also serves as a positive indicator that Plateau has indeed regained the confidence of investors as a viable destination for both local and foreign capital inflows.
“This is therefore a win-win for NASCO and for the Government and people of Plateau,” he stated.
Mr Matthew Mallo, representative of maize farmers thanked NASCO for the support they been given farmers over the years.
Mallo said that NASCO support tremendously increased the production of maize particularly in Bokkos.
The farmer said that the company gave them 37 trucks of fertilizers during COVID -19 period and that a lot of virgin land had been cultivated as result of availability of fertilizer.
“They are ready to buy the products at good price to keep us in business.
“We however, appealed to them provide us with a tractor to help in cultivating other virgin to increase the level of productivity,” he appealed.
