When you think of Guinness at 75, what does this milestone mean to you?

To me, celebrating 75 years of Guinness Nigeria is deeply humbling and inspiring. It represents far more than

a corporate milestone – it symbolises a profound journey shared closely with this remarkable nation. Since our brewery first opened its doors in

Ikeja in 1962 – marking Guinness’s bold choice to establish its very first brewery outside Ireland – our story has become inseparable from Nigeria’s own history. We have lived through independence, economic transformations, and shifting landscapes, always standing shoulder-to- shoulder with our people.

Over these decades, Guinness Nigeria has evolved into more than just a brand; we have become a national treasure – a trusted friend at family gatherings, a beacon at celebrations, and a steadfast partner in community development. What truly moves me is how generations of Nigerians have embraced and nurtured this brand, passing it down with pride.

This milestone isn’t ours alone. It belongs to every employee who has poured heart and skill into each bottle, every distributor whose dedication has helped us to reach every corner of Nigeria with our brands, every shareholder who believed in our mission, and every consumer who made us part of their lives. At 75, we honour this collective legacy and look forward with renewed purpose, knowing our best days are still ahead.

What do you think Guinness Nigeria has done differently to remain not just relevant but loved in Nigeria in the past 75 years?

What sets Guinness Nigeria apart isn’t simply our ability to craft outstanding beverages – it’s our profound connection to the heartbeat of Nigerian life. From the very beginning, we’ve never just marketed products; we’ve built lasting relationships that speak to the culture, values, and spirit of our people. Think of ‘My Friend Udeme,’ or ‘Michael Power’ – they weren’t just ads, they were affirmations of the Nigerian story.

We’ve also led with intent. In the 1980s, we pioneered local sourcing of sorghum – not out of necessity, but out of belief in Nigerian farmers and the potential of homegrown innovation. That belief still guides how we invest, hire, and operate today. But what truly makes us loved is the breadth of our brands – from Guinness Foreign Extra Stout to Malta Guinness, Orijin, Smirnoff, Dubic Malt and Gordon’s. We’ve created drinks that show up at every table, every occasion, every moment that matters. Each one crafted with care, grounded in culture, and built on quality.

That combination – respecting tradition, championing innovation, and staying authentically Nigerian – is why Guinness Nigeria isn’t just relevant. It’s deeply loved.

What’s the story you think people don’t often hear about how Guinness became such a trusted name in Nigeria?

What many people see are the iconic brands – the campaigns, the bold flavours, the bottles on shelves. What they may

not always see is the quiet, consistent commitment that’s been running underneath it all for decades. The real story of how Guinness Nigeria earned trust is written in our actions – in the lives we’ve touched, the promises we’ve kept, and the values we’ve refused to compromise.

We were the first major brewery to locally source sorghum on a commercial scale – a decision rooted in sustainability, economic empowerment, and national pride. We’ve built capacity in local communities, trained farmers, empowered female entrepreneurs, and created jobs where they’re needed most. But beyond economics, we’ve shown up in deeply human ways. From helping restore sight through the Guinness Eye Hospitals, to providing clean water through Water of Life, to pioneering responsible drinking education in partnership with the FRSC – we have led from the front with courage and conviction.

Inside our walls, we’ve invested in our people – through progressive leave policies, industry-leading safety standards, and leadership development initiatives like the female GMT programme. And outside our walls, we’ve listened – to culture, to consumers, to communities.

So while many know us for our bold brands, the story less told is how deeply we’ve tried to be a good company – not just a successful one. And that, I believe, is why we’ve become such a trusted name in Nigeria. Trust, after all, is built not in campaigns, but in consistency.”

As Guinness Nigeria celebrates 75 years of impact, what role have your trade partners and distributors played in shaping your journey – and how do you see their continued contribution powering the next chapter of your growth and transformation?

You cannot tell the story of Guinness Nigeria without telling the story of our trade partners and distributors. For 75 years, they’ve been the quiet giants – carrying our legacy from brewery gates to every corner of Nigeria. From Lagos to Enugu, Benin to Kano, they’ve not only moved our products – they’ve helped build our brand.

In tough times, they held the line. In moments of growth, they scaled with us. Their resilience, belief in the brand, and deep connection to their communities have helped us reach further than we ever could alone.

As we look ahead, they remain central to our future – powering smarter distribution, deeper retail insight, and broader social impact. This has never been just about supply. It’s about shared ambition. And our trade partners remain one of our greatest competitive advantages – a living bridge between our purpose and the lives we seek to celebrate.

How is Guinness Nigeria embracing this transition, and what does it unlock for the future of the business and the communities you serve?”

This transition marks a defining moment- not just in our ownership structure, but in our ambition. We are turning the page to a bold new chapter, grounded in our legacy but fully focused on the future. With Tolaram’s majority investment, Guinness Nigeria is embracing the opportunityto become more agile, more locally empowered, and more responsive to the evolving needs of the Nigerian consumer.

It opens the door to faster innovation, stronger local sourcing, and deeper cultural relevance – blending the heart of a proudly Nigerian business with the discipline of a world-class enterprise.

But more than operations, this is about reaffirming our purpose: celebrating life every day, everywhere. From our factories to our communities, we remain committed to impact – through responsible drinking, clean water access, youth empowerment, and inclusive employment.

We are not just evolving. We are Building for More. For more opportunity. More innovation. More Nigerian sourcing. More impact. And ultimately, more pride in what it means to be part of the Guinness Nigeria story – now and for the next 75 years and beyond.

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