Ajinomoto Targets South-west as Ooni of Ife Pledges Support

Martins Ifijeh

West African Seasoning Company Limited, an affiliate of the AJINOMOTO Group; a Global food giant and makers of Aji-no-moto Umami Seasoning, is making efforts to improve nutrition in Nigeria by expanding its business operations in food products in the South-west geo-political zone.

The Japanese company which aims to be a top-ten global food company by 2020, said the expansion would enable it provide the most delicious and wholesome foods to the people in the area.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Niki Junichi disclosed this in Oshogbo recently when the management of the company paid a courtesy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, as part of the management’s ongoing effort to reposition Aji-no-moto® in the country.

Junichi noted that the company is committed to creating more value for the society, adding that Ajinomoto has been in existence for over 100 years.

According to him, Aji-no-moto® Umami seasoning has been safely used as food ingredient since 1909.

“We are providing high-quality, safe, and reliable products to our customers. We want them to eat well and live well. Our expansion no doubt, will have a positive impact on the lives of the people. Our plans for increased investment will also bring about employment opportunities in the country.

“At present our products are sold in over 130 countries and regions, and we have plans to both expand to new markets and further broaden our product lineups”, he said.

In his response, Oba Ogunwusi commended the management of West African Seasoning Company Limited, for the company’s laudable contributions to Nigeria’s economy over the years.

The Ooni pledged his support for the relaunch of Ajinomoto seasoning product in the South-west, while urging the management to key into the various rich cultural festivals in Yoruba land to reach its target audience.

“We will give you the necessary support that you need. You have started well by coming to the kingdom of Ife where everybody in the southern part of the country came from.

“At some point, Aji-no-moto® was a popular product, but so many of your competitors came and worked on how to blacklist that strong brand in southern Nigeria.

“But I am happy you are not giving up. Nobody will work on de marketing you here. Whatever we can do to support you, we will do but you also on your part, do not lack on your Corporate Social Responsibility”, the monarch said.

Oba Ogunwusi added: “I thank you for your consistency in Nigeria and for your strategic marketing re-engineering for you to have decided to come so that you can relaunch your product in the southern part of the country.”

Also speaking, the company’s Technical Director and Head, Research and Development, Mr. Kenichi Kobayashi, urged Nigerians to disregard misconceptions about Aji-no-moto®, assuring them that the product had been thoroughly tested with various scientific studies confirming its safety.