by Chi Ibe

Facundo Bacardi, the chairman of Bacardi, the world’s largest family owned spirits company, was in Lagos Nigeria recently to increase the rate of investment  and growth in the African market. He was on a business tour visiting some of the most important markets in Africa,

Just before commencing his trade-visit to some of the largest shopping malls in Lagos, he explained the motive for this historical tour, “I’m happy to be here in Lagos, Nigeria– to show how incredibly committed we are, not only to Nigeria, but to the whole continent of Africa. Because, from where I sit in Bermuda, we look around the globe as to the markets that would be our largest and most important markets, and over the long-term we’ve identified Nigeria as one of those markets – so you’re going to see a lot of us, a lot of activations, and a lot of our brands, because Bacardi is here to stay…” he said.

Towards the end of the event, Alex Kothoor, the Managing Director of GDN presented Bacardi with a unique oil painting by Bruce Onobrakpeya. In appreciation of the warm reception and kind gesture, Bacardi left the guests with lasting mementos of his visit, by signing his autograph on their take-home bottles of Bacardi Reserve.

Wrapping off the trade visit, and formal business of the day, GDN Nigeria Limited, the facilitators of this historical visit, treated Bacardi to a spectacular night of glamour tagged the ‘Martini Blush Night,’ to afford him the opportunity to experience the Lagos nightlife. Musical entertainment was provided by Gloria Ibru, and her live band, while the maverick DJ Sosé enchanted the guests with an eclectic mix of music from his turntable. Some of the celebrity guests that made the event pop include: Uche Jumbo, Olisa Adibua, Lynx, Brian Okwara (former Mr Nigeria), Sam Onyemelukwu (MD of Trace TV, Nigeria), and Ajibade Gbenro Emmanuel (star actor on MNET’s Tinsel), just to mention a few. The highlight of the event and indeed of the entire visit was the unveiling of the brand new Martini TV commercial with an all-Nigerian cast, which features Uti Nwachukwu and Eku Edewor as its lead characters.

Kothoor also announced that:  “we’ll be activating a Dance Talent Show sometime in the first or second quarter of next year, and also, we’ll be replicating the success of the Grey Goose Elton John AIDS Foundation here in Nigeria, by establishing a similar foundation to help combat the spread of AIDS in Nigeria, and also help provide education and relief materials to people living with AIDS in the country.”

*The James Amuta Company

Oluwapelumi