New Telegraph 
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, MP Master Piece Limited, Mr Emeka Ike, has called on the Federal Government to protect indigenous investors through favourable policies and provision of necessary infrastructure. Ike made the call while introducing a new brand of brandy, Firemore, into the Nigerian market.
In a media chat with newsmen in Lagos, the Managing Director and CEO, MP Master Piece Ltd, Mr Emeka Ike, said: “Firemore is produced here in Nigeria and I’m proud to say that a lot of care is put into the production, from ingredients sourcing to the production process; the brand however will compete nicely with other foreign brandy in the market.
“The unique flavour appeals to consumers above the age of 18, so whether you’re taking it straight, baking with it or making a cocktail with Firemore, as long as you’re 18 and not pregnant, you will get the satisfaction you crave for.” Speaking on doing business in Nigeria as an indigenous company, Mr Ike said: “My company has created jobs for many young Nigerians, that is one of the huge benefits of having indigenous companies and government needs to promote and protect the interest of indigenous producers with good policies and conducive environment to create more job opportunities for our younger generations, and that way, tackle unemployment, poverty and other social menace in our society. If the environment is not friendly for producers, it’s a problem.
“Many producers in the country today are struggling to survive, and those who can not keep up have left the country; it’s a big challenge, and we need government intervention with fair economic policies.” Speaking further, he also lamented the deplorable state of our roads as a major challenge for the distribution of goods from place of production to the market and other locations.
“The state of our roads are terrible, and producers spend so much on vehicle maintenance. Many occasions, trucks somersault on roads and goods are lost while producers lose millions of naira at a point. “I use this medium to appeal to the government to fix our roads so that producers would find it easy to convey goods around the country. “We have been in this business for so many years, facing tough environmental and operational challenges like every other industry.
The market is slow now owing to numerous factors militating production process and we appeal to the government to listen to us.” He said barely a couple of months in the market, the brandy was already making waves and competing favourably with other strong brands in the market. The company is known for other quality products among which are the popular Skirt blended brandy Kubanah Whisky, etc.
According to the firm, “it’s interesting to know that Firemore is produced in Nigeria with ingredients sourced both locally and internationally.” The firm has been at the forefront of promoting quality made in Nigeria goods with international standards, and the introduction of Firemore blended brandy is an additional testament to what the company stands for.v
