Global Excellence: How Henkel’s Legacy Shapes Its Business in Nigeria

Raheem Akingbolu

Henkel, a global consumer goods, laundry, hair care and adhesives manufacturing leader, with headquarters in Germany and a vast workforce across 125 nations and offices in 79 countries, including Nigeria, recently celebrated its 147 years global legacy of innovation, excellence and sustainability.

This milestone is a testament to how the corporate brand is driving its purpose through its leadership commitments including acting as entrepreneurs, collaborating with strong teams, developing people with passion, and owning its results and its purposeful growth agenda.

With a rich history spanning nearly a century and a half, Henkel globally has become a name synonymous with quality, compliance, and sustainability. This legacy has been instrumental in guiding the company’s journey towards becoming a global leader.

Since it entered Nigeria in 2016, Henkel’s well-known laundry detergent brands, which include WAW and Nittol detergent, have grown to be a significant participant in Nigeria’s Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) market.

Speaking on its anniversary in Lagos, Managing Director of Henkel Nigeria, Rajat Kapur, stated: “Throughout our long history, Henkel has evolved into a global leader, guided by a legacy of excellence and a commitment to innovation. This has been our compass, steering us through change, uncertainties, and disruptions. Through our goal of creating value for all stakeholders, we are enablers of employee empowerment, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. We remain committed to shaping a brighter future for all, not just for ourselves but for generations to come.”

On its diversity, equity and inclusion agenda, Rajat said: “Henkel was one of the first German DAX companies to establish a dedicated global diversity team. Today, diversity, equity and inclusion are deeply anchored in the company strategy and corporate culture.

“One of the things that really worked for us in Nigeria since we established the purposeful growth agenda in 2020 was the fact that we had since fully ingrained it as part of work culture and transited to a more open transparent culture in our transformation journey.”

Rajat also highlighted the significance of cultural transformation in promoting understanding among employees, fostering stronger relationships, teamwork, and collaboration among team members, ultimately enhancing productivity and innovation within the organization.

Head, Public Affairs, Governance (PAG) and Transformation, Henkel Nigeria, Chidera Akwuba, emphasized Henkel’s resilience and commitment to organisational cultural values to drive sustainable impact.

In her words: “As we celebrate beyond now, let us remember that our legacy is not just a record of our past achievements but a promise of what we can achieve in the future. Together, we will continue to innovate, lead, and make a positive impact on the world.

“Our global journey of 147 years is a testament to our resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to our values. We embrace diversity and inclusivity as part of our ways to drive our purposeful growth agenda through cultural transformation. A diverse workforce can bring fresh perspectives and ideas that contribute to a more innovative and adaptable culture,” Chidera said.

The corporate brand has also consistently demonstrated its commitment to empowering Nigerian youth and contributing to the socio-economic transformation of its host communities. Through its Peer-to-Peer (P2P) entrepreneurship initiative, over 250 unemployed Nigerian youths have been empowered and transformed into thriving entrepreneurs. Its Researchers’ World Initiative has positively impacted over 1,000 children and students from 2021 till date.