Business
Dangote Flour Group Nets N2.9bn Profit
Dangote Flour Group has announced a net profit of N2.9 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008, representing a 400 per cent increase compared to N561.55 million posted in 2007.
The Group made this statement at its Annual General Meting which took place at the Civic Centre, Ozurumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday, 9th December, 2009 an event chartered by Alhaji Miko Dangote, the President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group.
According to the financial results audited by Akintola Williams Deloitte, Dangote Flour Group, however increased from N43.13 billion to N47.92 billion from 2007 to 2008 financial year.
Following the impressive result a dividend of 20 kobo per share has been recommended by the directors for the year under review.
The strategy adopted by the flour giant to overcome the difficult operating environment, according to Alhaji Dangote was to “focus on internal efficiency to cut down on other areas of costs, the effect of which made the company’s profit before taxation to increase from N376 million in 2007 to N1.8 billion.
“Group profits in 2008 also leaped from N676 million in 2007 to N3.2 billion in 2008 implying N1.4 billion Group attributable profits from subsidiaries”.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.