Nigeria: Dbanj, Tonto drum support for perfumery

Koko Master, Oladapo Oyebanji aka Dbanj and Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh have drummed support for Nigeria’s perfume industry. The artistes who graced the opening of the indigenous perfumery, Sapphire Scents along with the Founder Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, have urged support for the growth of the perfume industry in Nigeria, while […]

Koko Master, Oladapo Oyebanji aka Dbanj and Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh have drummed support for Nigeria’s perfume industry.

The artistes who graced the opening of the indigenous perfumery, Sapphire Scents along with the

Founder Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, have urged support for the growth of the perfume industry in Nigeria, while emphasising that the success of company was clear indication that Nigeria could be a leading market for the industry.

Dikeh, who is a brand ambassador for the perfumery which has become a household name, said the company, which mainly produces mainly scents that are based on oud, frankincense and myrrh as well as mixes essential oils like vanilla, jasmine, balsam and citrus among others, could help reduce Nigeria’s capital flights on luxury perfumes.

She said, the brand’s ability to build a globally competitive perfumery range has enabled it gain acceptance in the luxury class.

While stressing that government should be able to invest in initiatives that would make the country proud, Dikeh said, “We need made-in-Nigeria and Africa products like this. We go outside the country to buy all we need not because the products are not here but because the quality is poor. We need government to begin to invest in our products and build the kind of quality you see in Sapphire Scents.

“Most Nigerians are creative but it is either they lack funding or the business environment prevents them from surviving. The money businesses stake in ensuring they have power, is more than their capital.”

Dbanj, speaking at the perfume sampling and opening of Saphire Scents’ new outlet at the Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja, said it is important for Nigeria to learn to support local industries in order to sustain the nation’s economy and address the growing unemployment problem.

The multiple award winning music act who entertained guests at the event, said, “Sapphire scents is our own brand and we are proud of it. We need to support our products. The youths also need to learn that they can do it looking at the success story of this brand.”

Pastor Fatoyinbo, who described Sapphire Scents as a company which has helped address Nigeria’s unemployment situation for those in its employ, said he was proud to be associated with the brand.

He said such businesses needed to be empowered by the government because beyond making profits, they were also empowering other Nigerians.

“What this brand represents to me is what the Bible calls joy to the world,” Fatoyinbo said, “there are a lot of families that are being sustained because of this business, so I call it joy to the world.”

Adewale Aladejana, the company’s Chief Executive Officer said he crafted his ways into the league of millionaires by manufacturing perfumes and creating unique scents.

Aladejana who said, opening the new outlet is a strategy step in the expanding plan of the organization added that, “apart from core workers, the company has close to 300 distributors across the country and has operations in major countries in Europe and the United States of America.

He said the company was started with a N30, 000 capital, adding that, “We are just about entering the 20 to 50 thousand bottles a year mark. We are trying to sell at least 50, 000 bottles this year.”

According to him, the enabling environment remains crucial if the industry must thrive, adding that government needs to find a way to supports local manufacturers to meet demands from the growing population.