Deebee Company Limited was incorporated in June 1977 with the initial purpose of commercially exploiting the research results of Dr D B A Ogutuga, Ph.D. (Cantab), the Founder and Executive Chairman, on the process for the manufacture of wine from kolanuts. These research findings were as a result of Dr Ogutuga's doctoral research work at the University of Cambridge, UK leading up to his Ph.D. degree in 1969. The results were also later patented in Lagos and London in 1978.

Production of wine started in an improvised factory in Ibadan, Oyo State, using mainly small-scale equipment and utilizing capital provided from the limited resources of the proprietor. The company was the first to produce wine in commercial quantities in Nigeria. Following the successful introduction of its products to the Nigerian market and the enthusiastic reception given to its products, the need to expand its production capacity was soon recognized.

Between 1979 and 1985, the company obtained funding for expansion and the construction of a purpose-built factory was completed at Isonyin, near Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. Operations at the new factory commenced in May 1985 and, with ready acceptance of the company's brands in the marketplace coupled with prudent management of funds, it was possible for the company to pay back its loans ahead of schedule. Between 1985 and 2004, the Deebee range of products continued to grow, utilizing the technical know-how of the Founder; it was thus that some of the brands (e.g. Popapine, Deebee Black Label ) became house-hold names in the Nigerian marketplace. All Deebee products are NAFDAC registered.

Introduction of Zoom

In 2004, Deebee Company took on a franchise (or license) for Zoom packaged drinks from South Africa which, it was felt, would perfectly complement the in-house range of bottled drinks and enable the entry of Deebee drinks into yet another sub-sector of the drinks market. Zoom flavoured drinks are manufactured and marketed by a growing list of licensees across the world, currently including countries such as Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Trinidad and Ethiopia.

The franchise project involved the purchase from South Africa of a completely new, fully integrated, semi automatic, state of the art mixing and filling line for the new range of products. Trained engineers from South Africa installed the filling line and full training was given to local staff. Because the products are manufactured under licence, the franchise agreement also includes the purchase of concentrates, stand-up pouches, outer wrappers etc.

The Zoom factory was commissioned in November 2004.

PROFILES OF BOARD MEMBERS

Dr Dolapo Babasola Adeyemi Ogutuga
Dr Ogutuga is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Deebee Company Limited. He is a Biochemist trained at both the Universities of Ife in Nigeria and Cambridge in the United Kingdom . A designated Food and Drug Analyst of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Ogutuga founded Deebee Company Limited in 1977 for the purpose of producing wines in commercial quantities from locally available raw materials, such as kola nuts, cashew nuts etc. In 1988, through his personal efforts at product development, Deebee Company added the sparkling non-alcoholic pineapple juice to its range of products. Dr Ogutuga has remained the Chief Executive of the company since inception.

Before starting Deebee Company Ltd, Dr Ogutuga began his working career at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan where he rose to the position of Chief Research Officer. During the 14 years he spent at CRIN, he was appointed Chairman of the Western State of Nigeria Agricultural Credit Corporation and he was a Cocoa Processing Consultant to the government of Sri Lanka under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in 1975/76.

Among several positions held/awards given, Dr Ogutuga is

•  member of the National Council of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)

•  First Vice President of the Ogun State Branch of MAN

•  Member Governing Council NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Control and Administration from 2002-2007

•  Patron NACCIMA Ijebu Ode, Ogun State

Dr DBA Ogutuga's contact e-mail: dbaogutuga@deebeewines-ng.com

Dr (Mrs) Esther Olabisi Ogutuga

Dr (Mrs) Ogutuga is currently the Managing Director of Deebee Company Limited. Mrs Ogutuga is a Chemist/Biochemist trained at the Universities of St Andrews (B.Sc. Hons. Chemistry 1975) and London (Ph.D. Biochemistry 1978), both in the United Kingdom . Upon graduation, she worked for Lever Brothers Nigeria (now Unilever Nigeria ) and Unilever UK , holding various technical positions of increasing seniority till 1989. During this time, she also had the opportunity to work at various Unilever companies/Research Centres in Sweden , Holland and Belgium and to attend several Management Development courses organized by the multinational company. She joined Monsanto PLC (an American company) in the UK in 1989 initially as Head of Technical Services Department, from where she was appointed to general management positions. By 1991, she was Head of Commercial Department and a member of the Management Team.

Dr Mrs Ogutuga returned to Nigeria in 1995. She started working with Deebee Company in 1997, initially as Sales & Marketing Director. She has also been an active Management Consultant since 1995. Her areas of specialization are Production/Process Management, Logistics, TQM and ISO9000 Quality Systems. Dr Ogutuga was appointed as a member of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in 2004.

Dr (Mrs) E O Ogutuga's contact e-mail: eoogutuga@deebeewines-ng.com

Mr Adewale O. Sangowawa– Non-Executive Director

Mr Sangowawa is an accomplished and highly successful banker, economist and management consultant. Born in Isonyin Ijebu, he attended Emmanuel School, Isonyin and Government College, Ibadan for his primary and secondary education respectively. From there he won a USAID scholarship to study at the University of Makerere, Uganda where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science & Economics and a Master of Arts degree in Development Economics. After starting his career with the Ugandan Civil Service, Mr. Sangowawa returned to Nigeria in 1967 and worked briefly at the Central Bank. However he was soon attracted away by the African Development Bank (ADB) in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire and spent 28 years (1969-97) on a long and glorious career with the ADB, culminating in his appointment to the post of Vice President – a post he held for 7 years.

After his retirement from the ADB, Mr Sangowawa started up a Management Consultancy in Abidjan, offering help and advice to private sector companies, the ADB and regional national governments. In 2002, he was invited to join Globacom in its roll-out as the Second National Operator of telecommunications in Nigeria, and he remains an Executive Director at Globacom, where he spearheads the management of Human Capital. He plays a major role in the team that has seen the ascendance of Globacom as a service provider within Nigeria and, more recently, in neighbouring Benin.

Mr Sangowawa sits/has sat on the boards of many companies and parastatals. He is a keen sportsman and maintains an active lifestyle. He holds Chieftaincy titles from Emmanuel Church, Isonyin and also from Ondo State and Cote D'Ivoire. He is happily married with children.

MR ADEWALE SANGOWAWA's contact e-mail: aosangowawa@deebeewines-ng.com