British American Tobacco Nigeria has been lauded for its significant contribution to Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, having generated over $300m in export sales between 2022 and 2024, the company announced at the 53rd Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
According to a statement, the company received the Diamond Sponsor Appreciation Award at the three-day event, themed Nigeria First: Prioritising Patronage of Made in Nigeria, in recognition of its long-standing support for industrial growth and local content promotion.
The AGM drew captains of industry, government officials and business leaders, including the keynote speaker, industrialist Aliko Dangote.
Chairman of the MAN Export Promotion Group, Odiri Erewa-Meggison, received the award on behalf of BAT Nigeria. She said, “This recognition is a demonstration of our belief in the potential of the Nigerian manufacturing sector. At BAT Nigeria, we continue to prioritise local content and export expansion because we believe that sustainable wealth creation begins with building strong, competitive and proudly Nigerian manufacturing enterprises.”
The company’s exports reached 13 West and Central African countries as well as the United States, underscoring its role in strengthening Nigeria’s non-oil export capacity and enhancing foreign exchange inflows. BAT Nigeria’s Ibadan factory remains a leading manufacturing hub in West Africa, supporting the country’s industrialisation drive.
Beyond its fiscal impact, BAT Nigeria sustains an estimated 350,000 direct and indirect jobs across its value chain, including suppliers, logistics and distribution partners, highlighting its role in job creation and economic development.
The MAN Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, noted that the firm’s performance illustrates how multinational corporations can support local manufacturing and promote the “Made in Nigeria” agenda, especially as the country seeks deeper industrialisation and greater integration into the African Continental Free Trade Area.
