Furniture producer, Hammerhead, sees orders from USA, Japan

By Godfrey Ofurum

…Thanks NEPC for exposure

Hammerhead Integrated Company, a furniture manufacturing firm based in Aba, Abia State, says it is finalising plans to export its products to the United States of America, Japan, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

These were orders the firm generated at the inaugural Intra-African Trade Fair in Egypt, tagged “Egypt 2018”, said Tony Akudinobi, managing director of the firm.

Akudinobi revealed this when he hosted officials of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Export Assistance Office, Aba, who paid a courtesy call on his factory, situated along Aba-Owerri road, observed that more orders would have been generated if his firm was adequately promoted before the fair.

The Hammerhead chief executive expressed gratitude to the NEPC for selecting his company to participate in the fair and applauded the council for their unalloyed drive in promoting non-oil export.

He, however, stated that one of the challenges his firm encountered at the show was the late arrival of their exhibits and damages to some in the course of moving them to the fairground, noting that the issue took him time to start a process of repairs on them.

According to him, “most of our products were damaged in the process. Also, owing to the short notice given to us, we had no time to adequately prepare for the fair”.

Despite the shortcomings, Akudinobi explained that his company had an impressive performance and attracted investors from all around the world, but could not make on-the-spot-sales, due to the embargo placed on sales at the fair.

He revealed also that he received rare commendations from officials of the federal government, especially Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, who commended his products.

He stated also that by participating in the fair that his firm received-direct invitation from the Egyptian Ministry of Commerce to attend a trade exhibition, tagged “Egypt Expo and Convention Authority’ (EECA), which took place on March 20 -29, 2019.

“We also received an Invitation to participate at the African Pavilion in’ Global Village -24th Season Event 2019-2020, which took place in November that year.

The Hammerhead boss who was elated at the visit by NEPC, thanked the CEO for the honour done to him, saying that the council has taken his company to various trade fairs in the past.

He used the opportunity to announce plans by his company to complete production to enable him deliver the orders arising from the fair in Egypt and pleaded on the council to assist the company to convey his exhibits left unprotected in Lagos and also to assist them with funds to enable quick delivery of the export orders, arising from their participation at the fair.

According to him, the company’s participation at the fair was of immense benefit to it, as it exposed it more to the global market.