NPSL limited formerly known as National Petroleum yesterday launched its new logo and image. The ceremony attracted senior government officials, parliamentarians, business representatives and customers. The new company which is 100% locally owned was privatized by the government of Sierra Leone in 1996 paving the way for a new management approach aimed at creating a new entity with a new outlook, defeat skeptics, and expand beyond the borders of Sierra Leone .
In his statement, the Board Chairman of NP Mike Carol said the process of rebranding and repositioning the company for “international duties” started on the 5th of May 1997 when the government of Sierra Leone which held 60% shares in the company it acquired from British Petroleum in 1984 relinquished its hold to private investment.
Following privatization, the company he said was “faced with challenges” and one of which was “to change international and local perception to match with the reality that it was now wholly owned by private investors”.
The focus of the company following privatization as explained by its Marketing Manager Kobi Walker shifted swiftly from local to international and that he went on “demanded a change in physical outlook, management orientation and capacity, and brand equity” to realize its vision, hence the birth of a rejuvenated and revitalized “new company” which now aims at the world beyond the borders of Sierra Leone.
The Managing Director Alhaji Babatunde Cole acknowledging the good works of his predecessor told invitees that he “inherited a good company four years ago” from Vincent Kanu. It was therefore his vision on assuming headship with input and support from his management staff to “transform it into a great company” capable of competing in the sub region.
Explaining the meaning of the new logo designed by SL M’Cann, he said it was “designed to give the company its “own” image. The green as a symbol of environmental consciousness, “growth with abundance of product replenishing the vegetation we are destroying”. The “swoosh” protruding from the top of the letters “np” symbolizes the “dynamic nature of the business model” and can also be equated to “boldness of attitude in taking risk”.
Under his stewardship, he intends to see the “big fish” in a very small Sierra Leone pond, become as he puts it “a small fish in a big ocean” confident that the new NP is “capable of competing” in the sub region.
President Koroma in his statement described the unveiling occasion as a “transformative” event. Saying that “we should be proud of the achievement of NP” because as he puts it, “to stay competitive after privatization is remarkable”. The “prospects” of Sierra Leone becoming an oil exporting country he went on is “great”.
ADVERTISEMENT