Nigerian envoy calls for more sub-regional intergration

Page 31 Friday November 21 2008
THE Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Mosiliu Obanikoro, has called on the Ghanaian business community to collaborate with its Nigerian counterpart to give meaning to efforts to unify the West African sub-region.
He said for the much talked about sub-regional integration to materialise, the two countries must play a leading role, saying, “We can together create wealth and alleviate poverty in the region.”
Senator Obanikoro said this in Accra yesterday when he inaugurated a new fast food outlet, Chicken Republic, a Nigerian franchise which has just established its first joint in Ghana.
For a start, Chicken Republic, the flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has teamed up with So, an oil marketing company, to open outlets.
The food retailer, which is said to be the fastest growing food franchise in West Africa, plans to invest about $500,000 in the Ghanaian economy and open more outlets.
The Nigerian High Commissioner challenged the business community in Ghana to make incursions into his country, just as companies from Nigeria had been flooding Ghana.
He said by those healthy reciprocal business relationships, Ghana and Nigeria could help lift many from poverty and make the region a major player in international business.
A major milestone in Chicken Republic’s history was attained in December 2007 when it opened its first offshore outlet in Sunnyside, Pretoria, South Africa, extending its mission to make Chicken Republic a foremost chicken brand in Africa.
Senator Obanikoro said the opening of the fast food outlet was another opportunity to deepen the bond of friendship that already existed between the two countries.
“Another positive outcome of the launch of the Chicken Republic outlet is that Ghana and Nigeria will be partnering each other in the creation and distibution of wealth as a result of the jobs that will be created for citizens of both countries,” he noted.
The managers of the food company said its outlets throughout Africa would be increased from the current 18 to 300 by 2012, with majority of the shops being located in Nigeria.
The Chief Operating Officer of Food Concepts, Mr Kofi Abunu, said last year alone the franchise served pieces of chicken in excess of six million in Nigeria.