The Managing Director of The Mart Supermarket, Princess Bakare-Okewo, has attributed the growth of the supermarket's business to the positive impact of local manufacturing in Nigeria.
Speaking at the supermarket’s fourth celebratory anniversary and free medical outreach program in Ogba, Lagos, Okwo highlighted the vital role of the manufacturing sector in driving the country’s economic growth and the success story of The Mart.
He attributed the success of the supermarket business value chain to the country's growing manufacturing sector.
Okeowo said the manufacturing sector is the backbone of the economy, adding that there are a lot of made in Nigeria products available in supermarkets,
He urged Nigerians to patronize locally manufactured goods and dispel the long-standing notion that all things produced in the country are inferior while all things imported are better.
“I always encourage Nigerians to buy made in Nigeria goods.” “They should not feel that because it is made in Nigeria, the quality will be poor.”
According to him, a large number of locally made goods are of high quality and sell like hot cakes in both modern retail and online stores in the country.
“When I see some products, I can't believe they were manufactured in Nigeria,” she said.
Speaking on the free medical outreach to elderly people in the Ogba community, the Managing Director said, “The medical outreach was done by The Mart Supermarket as part of its give back to the Ogba community.”
“We've been in this community for four years, and I think it's only right that we give back to the community.
“It's a way of saying thank you to the community that has been patronizing us for four years. They've accommodated us, kept us going, because The Mart Supermarket didn't start out like that, and, we're still in business.”
He said the supermarket felt it was appropriate to celebrate the elderly and veterans in the community.
On the four-year anniversary celebration of his supermarket, Bakare-Okewo gave all glory to Almighty God for helping him start and grow the business.
“I give all the glory to Almighty God. Mart is four years old today. That's just God because when I looked back at the beginning of this supermarket, I had no experience about the supermarket business. But for us to survive for four, I think we will survive forever because it is a beautiful line of business and it is also a profitable business. And we give glory to Almighty God.”
