The federal government has unveiled
the names of Nigeria’s Top 100
companies set to be honoured by
President Goodluck Jonathan on
Monday.
Some of the companies include Dangote
Group, First Bank, Chevron, Elizade,
MTN, Globacom, Chi Group, Nigerian
Breweries, Nigeria Flour Mills, UAC,
APN Terminal, Eko Supreme, Mamuda
Industries, Dolphin Foods, Wemco,
Bolawaole Enterprises and Indorama.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and
Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga,
described the Top 100 Businesses
Initiative as a bold effort to celebrate
major investors and companies that are
contributing to the development of the
economy.
Aganga said that the country adopted
similar criteria as Fortune 500 in the
US, in selecting the top businesses. He
said this makes it very objective and
verifiable.
“We want to make it absolutely clear
that it has integrity. Coincidentally, it is
happening in the year of our centenary.
But we will in 120 years, in 150 years,
in 200 years go back to the Centenary
City, we will see the emblem of these
companies as a Top 100 companies in
the year Nigeria had at its centenary,”
he stated.
He expressed pride at the achievement
of the selected companies, as it is
investors that create jobs, wealth,
facilitate economic growth and generate
income for the government.
“We intend to use this Top 100
Businesses Presidential Award Dinner
to say big thank you to those
companies for their firm commitment
and belief in our economy and to charge
them to do more by bringing more
investments to Nigeria.
“It is also aimed at creating a platform
for public-private sector interactions on
Nigerian economic policies.
Aganga noted that with the yearning for
diversification of Nigeria’s economy,
the Top 100 list has shown that the
country is moving in the right direction.
“They cut across sectors including oil
and gas, telecommunications,
manufacturing, financial services,
construction, fast moving consumables,
food manufacturers, logistics, among
others,” he said.
“This process has, once again,
demonstrated that there are many
reputable companies in Nigeria. It is a
tough job finalising this list. Nigeria is
gifted with winners, great investors,
great companies and, of course, the
opportunities in Nigeria are huge.
“Behind Nigeria’s economic success,
are real companies that do business
everyday. Those companies invest,
employ our people and they keep our
economy growing. This administration
is aware that it is private companies
that are driving our economy.
Government is here to provide enabling
environment. it is the private sector
that will help Nigeria achieve its
economic goals,” Aganga noted.
Like the America’s Fortune 500, the
Minister said the Top 100 Businesses
Assessment Committee gleaned
information from public companies’
annual reports, Nigeria Stock Exchange,
NSE, the Financial Reporting Council,
FRC, as well as reports from private
companies that publish revenue figures,
to decide the winners.
The committee was headed by the
Executive Secretary and Chief Executive
Officer of the FRC, Mr. Jim Obazee.
Other members were Director-General,
Industrial Training Fund, Mrs. Juliet
Onaeko; Managing Director, Bank of
Industries, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa;
Executive Secretary, Sugar Council, Dr.
Lateef Busari; Chief Executive Officer,
Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar
Onyema; Executive Chairman, Federal
Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Kabir
Mashi; and Managing Director, Nigerian
Export Processing Zones Authority, Mr.
Gbenga Kuye.
Also in the committee were the
Executive Secretary, Nigerian
Investment Promotion Commission,
Mrs. Salatu Umar; Chief Executive
Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion
Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo; CEO,
Jake Riley Limited, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue;
a Director from MITI, Bambo Kunle-
Salami, and representatives of the
Minister.