We are attracted to Nigeria by market size, age, growth prospect – Harmony Health CEO and Director tell business a.m.

• Harmony Health will give right distributors opportunity to grow a business

Harmony Health is a Dublin, Republic of Ireland based company, which is behind the cardiovascular health product, ProArgi-9plus, whose science is reputedly backed by a Nobel prize in medicine winning research. With operations in 28 countries, it is now focusing on Africa and has chosen to begin in Nigeria, where it has already registered Harmony Health Company Nigeria Limited for this push. It has launched a massive hunt for major distributors, especially in the northern half of Nigeria. JAMES BOOTH is the chief executive officer, while YVONNE TIMMINS is a director of the company. In wire interview responses to questions, they jointly and separately tell BUKOLA ODUFADE the main drivers of their quest to come to Africa through Nigeria.

Your company currently operates in 28 countries and has decided to come down to Africa; why was Nigeria chosen as a launching pad for Africa?

Not only is the population large but it is also young, entrepreneurial spirited, and growing. Roughly half the population is reported to be 19 years of age or younger. Interestingly, Nigeria reportedly has the highest total entrepreneurial activity in the world; many Nigerians tend to be innovative and business oriented by nature.  The combination of the market size, age, and growth is very appealing to us. The CEO, James Booth, has done business in Nigeria many times before, he has many friends from Nigeria and they encouraged him to look at the Nigerian market because they felt it was important to bring the product there, as there are 45,000 Nigerians in Ireland and the ones that bought the product responded very well to it. Nigeria in our opinion is the most progressive country in Africa.

As you make a push into Africa starting with Nigeria, what kind of investment are you looking to bring to Nigeria and the continent?

We are looking for major distributors to cover a large part of the North of Nigeria and between us we will be bringing a health product that may help people with cardiovascular problems, blood pressure, cycle cell anemia, erectile dysfunction, wound healing etc. This will create employment and give interested people a sustainable business.

What are the opportunities you think you can bring to Nigeria through your full entry into Nigeria?

We will be giving the right people an opportunity to grow a business from the ground up and expand the business throughout Nigeria and into the African continent.  Our company’s mission statement is: “To provide superior quality health products that patients recommend to family and friends, Physicians prescribe for their patients.” We will also be creating employment.

Can you walk us through what your product is about and what is the projected level of demand for your new product, ProArgi-9plus which you plan to introduce into the Nigerian market?

ProArgi-9plus is the highest quality l-arginine supplement in the world. This proprietary formulation combines the powerful cardiovascular benefits of l-arginine with a variety of superior heart health ingredients to give your cardiovascular system optimum support. ProArgi-9plus was formulated in collaboration with leading scientists and cardiovascular specialists who have conducted extensive research on the proper application of l-arginine in promoting heart health.

Where is the product produced, and what makes it particularly unique?

The product is produced by Synergyworldwide in the USA. What makes it unique is that the science behind it has the Nobel Prize for Medicine and it is listed in the Physicians’ Desk reference book as the best l’arginine supplement in the world.

Is the product particularly suited to certain heart diseases that are prevalent in Nigeria, and what are the major benefits of this particular product?

This product is suited to all cardiovascular diseases and as a result it has been found to be successful for some people in treating sickle cell anemia, erectile dysfunction, wound healing etc. Having said that, everybody is different and people’s results differ.

Coming into Nigeria, what age range or class is your target market, who is the product targeted at?

Our target market is anybody over the age of twenty. ProArgi-9plus has been known to lower blood pressure because it boosts Nitric Oxide which helps relax and dilate your blood vessels, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. Competitive athletes also use it to increase their level of Nitric Oxide as this helps their stamina during exercise.

As an investor coming into the Nigerian market after the elections, what kind of environment are you anticipating?

As we already have a small presence in Nigeria we are surprised at the results and the increased interest/business it has already created. We are anticipating a boost in sales and attracting a Major Distributor who sees the value of this product and the potential for growth.

You also described the product as the biggest medical discovery in 100 years, what has been the feedback from other countries where the product has been introduced?

As the product is in 28 countries worldwide the sales are increasing annually, the product is becoming known and more than ever before, people are becoming health conscious. They are more educated and aware of the benefits of healthy living. The younger generation is very focused on being healthy from the inside out; gym membership is at an all-time high. As people strive to stay healthy they appreciate the benefits of supplementation.

As a company that is passionate about healthy living, would you say that the average Nigerian is living as healthily as he or she could be or not?

As I said previously the people are more aware of their health now and Nigeria is no different. When we visited Nigeria we could see the people going to the gym and taking care of themselves.

Also, the fact that most Nigerians can’t afford to live a healthy lifestyle, and do not have access to information to enable them to live healthily, how is your company equipped to overcome this challenge?

In most countries there are a percentage of people who are living in poverty and cannot afford to buy good nutritious food. Our company is striving to educate and inform people regarding the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. We are using T.V advertisements and holding seminars across Nigeria to get our message across to all the people.

What other products will you be introducing to the Nigerian health market?

We will be introducing other products towards the end of this year or early next year.

You are currently looking to have major distributors in Nigeria. What caliber of distributors is your company looking for?

We are looking for an individual or a company who has the ability and experience to distribute this high end product and who has a sound financial base.

Are the distributors going to be in categories?

No, all distributors will be in the same category.

What level of financial capability do you expect from individuals who show interest in distributorship?

As I said before we are looking for distributors who have the knowledge and the financial backing to cover their areas.

What should your potential partners in Nigeria expect from working with you to push your healthy heart product?

We are looking for people with enthusiasm, foresight and ambition to make this product a household name.