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Film, music stars support made-in-Nigeria products, as Sapphire Scents expands operation

By Kingsley Jeremiah, Abuja
22 May 2018   |   2:09 am
Music star, Oladapo Oyebanji, popularly known as Dbanj, ace Nigerian Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, and founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, have urged support for the growth of the perfume industry in Nigeria, especially Sapphire Scents.

Music star, Oladapo Oyebanji, popularly known as Dbanj, ace Nigerian Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, and founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, have urged support for the growth of the perfume industry in Nigeria, especially Sapphire Scents. They spoke at the opening of a new outlet and perfume sampling of Sapphire Scents at Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja. The popular made-in-Nigeria luxury perfume brand, they said, was an indication that Nigeria could be a leading market for the industry.

Dbanj stated that Nigeria must learn to support local industries so as to sustain the country’s economy and address growing unemployment.“Sapphire Scents is our own brand and we are proud of it. We need to support our products. The youth also need to learn that they can do it looking at the success story of this brand,” Dbanj said, while thrilling audience at the event.

Dikeh noted that the company, which focuses on Oud, frankincense and myrrh and mixes essential oils like vanilla, jasmine, balsam, citrus and many more, could help reduce Nigeria’s capital flights on luxury perfume. According to her, the brand’s ability of building a globally competitive perfume enabled it to gain acceptance in the luxury class. Dikeh, who is the brand ambassador, said government must be able to invest in initiatives that would make the country proud.

According to her, “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 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 is either that they lack funding or the business environment will not make them survive. The money some businesses stake on power is more than their capital. The government has failed us.”

Pastor Fatoyinbo, who noted that Sapphire scents has helped in addressing unemployment for many, said he was proud to be associated with the brand.Chief Executive Officer of the scent company, Adewale Aladejana, who said he crafted his ways into the league of millionaires by manufacturing perfumes, noted that the new outlet is a strategy step in the expanding plan of the organisation. According to him, apart from core workers, the company has close to 300 distributors across the country and has operations in major countries in European, U.S. and others.Aladejana, who disclosed that the company was built from a N30,000 capital, said: “We are just about entering the 20 to 50 thousand bottles mark in a year. We are trying to sell at least 50,000 bottles this year.”

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