Business

National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria Honours Mouka’s CEO

Published

5 years ago

August 2, 2019

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Mouka Limited, Raymond Murphy had the Honorary Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) conferred on him by the Institute on August 1, 2019.

This award comes on the heels of excellent marketing techniques, sterling service and leadership qualities that Murphy has been credited with.

Murphy received this honorary award alongside other captains of industries such as Uchechukwu Ogah, President , Masters Energy Group, Ifenyinwa Afe, Managing Director for HP Inc. Central Africa, Lateef Bakare, a member of the Board of First Bank, Nigeria, John Ugbe, Chief Executive Officer of Multi Choice Nigeria, among other notable personalities.

Murphy is reputed to be the brains behind the innovative ideas that have shot Mouka into the leadership position in the Nigerian foam and mattress industry. While it enjoys a huge market share, the foam company is also redefining the sector.

Mouka has been reckoned with for adding comfort to life through the provision of sleep solutions that have given rise to the opening of 10 sleep galleries across Nigeria. The company has also developed an extensive distribution network with more than 1,000 branded sales outlets and over 300 third-party distributors across the country.

The producer of foam, spring mattresses and other bedding materials is a proud owner of three production facilities in the country.

Murphy came on board as the CEO and MD of the indigenous foam manufacturing company in mid-2015 after the closure of a Private Equity transaction which saw 90 percent of the shareholding transferred to a private equity firm, leaving the remaining balance of 10 per cent to the original founding family. The company has since recorded feats only few in the private sector can boast of.

Mouka has been listed twice in the London Stock Exchange Group’s Companies to Inspire Africa reports for 2017 and 2019. To be included in the list, companies must be privately owned and show an excellent rate of growth and potential to power African development.

Mouka was also awarded the Mattress Manufacturing Company of the Year at the 2017 edition of The Guardian Manufacturing Excellence Award. That same year, the mattress manufacturer also earned another recognition by the African Brand Congress as the Mattress Brand of the Year.

In 2019, Mouka emerged the Foam and Mattress Company of the Year at the Nigerian Real Estate and Property Awards.

Noteworthy, is also the fact that Mouka recently partnered with the prestigious Lagos Business School to organize a leadership training programme for its management staff.

Mouka has been able to attain these enviable heights under Murphy’s watch and leadership.

Preceding the NIMN award, was Murphy’s recognition by Inside Business Magazine as Business Leader of the Year.

Reacting to the honour done him by the Institute, Murphy said : “In many ways I’m honoured and extremely humbled to receive this recognition tonight from such a prestigious institution… I think it’s not necessarily about improving my profile but what I can give back to the Institute in terms of sharing my experience of 3 decades of brand building not just in Nigeria but in other territories across the world.”

He explained further :

“…We have had strong partnerships with advertising agencies, creative agencies, public relations ,media planning and buying agencies and that has significantly increased Mouka’s brand profile over the past 5 years…so it’s about myself and my colleagues and the investment we have made over the past 5 years.”

Having begun his career as Business Development Manager at Sterling Health International in Moscow in 1984, Murphy pioneered the launch of Sterling Health over the counter OTC brands with Panadol as its power brand, in a number of emerging Eastern Europe markets

Between 1990 and 1993, he was Sterling Health’s Business Development Manager for Southern Central Africa and was responsible for the identification of new business opportunities. Murphy implemented successful entry strategies for Nigeria and Zimbabwe and grew sales by 300 percent over a three-year period.

He later joined Gillette International in Budapest Hungary where he served as General Manager between 1993 and 1997. In that capacity, he had the primary objective to seamlessly upgrade the business from third party national distribution to full-fledged local legal entity.

In 1997, he moved over to Indochina Juice Company happy as Chief Executive Officer of a start up project worth an estimated $11.0 million, he was saddled with the responsibility of manufacturing and marketing branded packaged fruit juices of the venture.

Murphy built sales of nearly $5 million during the first year of commercial operations and created two completely new and appealing fruit juice brands for Vietnamese consumers. He also devised a third party logistics solution ensuring cost effective product distribution throughout Vietnam.

In 2001, he became the Managing Director of Cussons Middle East, India and South Asia region and turned around a stagnating business to deliver over 20 percent bottom line annual growth. He restructured operations away from a trading mentality to formally structured marketing led enterprise and replaced under performing distributors and appointed leading distributors in new territories.

As Managing Director of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Murphy was responsible for $100 million of sales with seven factory units and 1,500 employees, and successfully doubled profits to $22 million in three years.

Murphy is a seasoned C-suite leader with in excess of 25 years’ experience in Global Emerging and Frontier Markets.

Business

FIRS ANNOUNCES AN ONGOING RECRUITMENT

Published

40 minutes ago

December 23, 2024

Sahara Weekly

FIRS ANNOUNCES AN ONGOING RECRUITMENT.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has rolled out an exciting opportunity for experienced professionals to join its team.

In a public notice via its X handle, the agency announced job openings for positions like Assistant Manager, Deputy Manager, and Assistant Director in fields such as Tax, Public Relations, Legal, ICT, and Risk Management.

Interested candidates are encouraged to review the eligibility criteria and apply via the official portal at careers.firs.gov.ng before January 11, 2025. This recruitment drive is aimed at bolstering public service efforts and maximizing national development.

Business

UBA GMD Calls for Public-Private Collaboration, Joins Aviation Minister to Commission New MMIA Departure Section

Published

18 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Sahara Weekly

UBA GMD Calls for Public-Private Collaboration, Joins Aviation Minister to Commission New MMIA Departure Section

The newly renovated departure section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, refurbished by United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, was officially commissioned on Friday, December 20th, 2024.

The laudable project, which marks a transformative moment in Nigeria’s aviation sector, underscores UBA’s unwavering commitment to national development and highlights the immense value of strategic public-private partnerships (PPPs).

The ceremony was graced by distinguished stakeholders, including the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN; the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; other Directors, and Heads of Agencies operating at the Airport.

Speaking at the event, UBA’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba,lauded the collaboration that brought the project to fruition as he emphasised the need for public and private institutions to come together to build and revamp the nation’s assets.

“This renovation is a testament of UBA’s belief in the transformative power of investing in national assets. By modernising our airports, we not only enhance infrastructure but also position Nigeria as a global hub for tourism, trade, and investment,” he stated.

Alawuba took time to highlight the broader economic impact of such initiatives, urging increased private-sector participation in national development. “Public-private partnerships like this demonstrate what can be achieved when we unite for a shared vision of progress and investing in infrastructure catalyses economic growth, improves travel experiences, and creates opportunities across various sectors of the economy,” he added.

Alawuba reflected on the power of unity and collaboration, quoting Helen Keller: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” The commissioning of the renovated departure section serves as a reminder of what strategic partnerships can achieve in driving national development and elevating Nigeria’s global standing.”

While commissioning the project, Keyamo commended UBA for executing the project, a feat he termed a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s aviation sector. “This renovated departure section exemplifies the bank’s commitment to elevating aviation infrastructure, improving passenger experiences, and fostering international partnerships. It is a proud moment for the ministry and all stakeholders involved, and I thank the management of UBA for pioneering this initiative,” he remarked.

The minister highlighted other key achievements of his ministry, including compliance with the Cape Town Convention, the launch of a consumer protection portal, and advancements in major infrastructure projects such as the second runway at Abuja Airport and solar energy integration in airport operations.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, commended UBA and other stakeholders for their contributions, adding, “This project reflects FAAN’s dedication to delivering world-class aviation infrastructure. The enhanced departure section not only elevates passenger experiences but also strengthens Nigeria’s competitive position in global aviation,” she said.

She called for more private-sector participation, emphasising that “partnerships like these are essential to transforming the aviation sector into a beacon of excellence.”

The newly renovated departure section boasts cutting-edge facilities designed to enhance efficiency and passenger comfort. This upgrade reaffirms the Murtala Muhammed International Airport’s status as a critical gateway to Nigeria and a major hub for international travel in Africa.

United Bank for Africa is Africa’s Global Bank. Operating across twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology. UBA is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally.

Business

Dangote Hails Tinubu on Impact of Crude for Naira Swap Deal

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Dangote Hails Tinubu on Impact of Crude for Naira Swap Deal

…As Dangote Refinery partners MRS to sell PMS at N935 per litre nationwide at its retail outlets

Sahara Weekly Unveils That The Foremost entrepreneur and President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the positive impact of the naira for crude swap deal on the Nigerian economy, which has led to reduction in prices of petroleum products in the country.

To provide succour to Nigerians, Dangote recently reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N970 to N899.50 at its Refinery loading gantry and provided generous credit terms to marketers.

“To ensure that this price reduction gets to the end consumer, we have signed a partnership with MRS to sell petrol from its retail outlets nationwide at N935 per litre” he added. This price has already commenced in Lagos, and it will be offered nationwide from Monday.

In his statement, he called on other oil marketers such as the NNPC Retail and all other marketers, “to work with us to ensure that Nigerians enjoy high-quality petrol at discounted prices.”

According to him, “The Dangote Refinery is for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. We will therefore continue to work with various value chain players to deliver high quality petrol at cheaper prices. Our aim is for all Nigerians to have ready access to high quality petroleum products that are good for their vehicles, good for their health, and good for their pockets.

Recall that in September, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) under the leadership of Mr. President approved the sale of crude to local refineries in Naira and corresponding purchase of petroleum products in Naira. The move, which commenced on October 1, led to reduced pressure on the dollar and ensured the stability of the local currency.

Dangote thanked Nigerians for their unwavering support and the government for creating an enabling environment for the domestic refining industry.