UNILEVER rewards outstanding drivers at Transporters’ Safety Week, calls for collaboration

The country’s premier FMCG Company, has reiterated its commitment to the safety and wellness of its logistics partners at the 2022 edition of Transporters’ Safety Week. The company also called for collaboration through information gathering and sharing to keep drivers safe and healthy in the course of their duty. Every year, UNILEVER dedicates a week to recognise its logistics partners amidst training, engagement, health checks, fanfare, and the recognition of outstanding drivers.

L-R: Country Sales Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc., Leye Adeniji; Country Logistics Manager, Unilever Nigeria Plc., Ayokunle Ajijola; Overall Winner, Drivers Category, Oritsetimeyin Logistics, Musbau Olaleye; Safety, Health & Environment Manager, Unilever, Ghana & Nigeria, Rachael Ezembakwe and Supply Chain & Planning Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc., Tobi Adeniyi, at the Unilever Nigeria Plc 2022 Annual Transporter’s Safety Week in Agbara, Ogun State.

This year’s edition, which was recently held at UNILEVER’s Main Distribution Center in Agbara and themed “Buga for Safety, Dey Kampe,” had hundreds of stakeholders within the company’s value chain in attendance.

Speaking at the event, the Supply Chain Director (Go-to-Market), Unilever, Tobi Adeniyi, said: “Buga for Safety, Dey Kampe” was adopted as the theme for the year because “we are constantly engaging our partners on what the standards are in terms of security, safety, and quality, whilst ensuring that we do not compromise, and we are glad that the feedback has been very positive.”

“We value this partnership as we place a very high value on the safety, well-being, and security of all partners involved in the handling of our products.” “This event symbolizes the fact that we are committed to safety, and for that, we cherish our enhanced collaboration with our transport partners, especially the drivers who exemplify the safety standards of Unilever within and outside of the company premises.”

The one-week event featured free medical check-ups, health, security, and safety training, and awards and rewards for independent transporters who adhered to Unilever’s safety protocols in line with relevant government and regulatory agencies.

In her remark, the Safety, Health, and Environment Manager for Unilever Nigeria/Ghana, Rachael Ezembakwe, said the annual safety week since its inception has had a positive impact on the company’s zero-fatality initiative. “In the last three years, UNILEVER has continued to leverage the opportunity to emphasize safety measures needed for our partners to remain safe while they contribute their quota to our value chain.

“We are happy that many of our logistics partners have demonstrated good behaviour as they commute both within and outside our facilities. We hope to maintain these standards because we believe that it is the best approach to keeping people safe and achieving our desired goal.

“We have seen significant improvement for two years in a row, with no fatalities involving any of our transportation partners on the road. “It is a big deal for us that we have drivers who practice defensive driving techniques and adhere to key safety protocols while on the road; hence, we will continue to celebrate them.”

Musbau Olaleye, a driver with Oritsetimeyin Logistics Ltd. (OLL), won the Overall Best Performance Drivers Award.

Recognizing UNILEVER’S gesture, OLL’s Transport Manager, Ayodeji Akinde, thanked Unilever for keeping their promises to their logistic partners.