In its statement, the Board expressed confidence in the new appointee, noting:
“The Board warmly welcomes Mr. Uchenna Nwakanma and wishes him all the best in his new role.”
A Seasoned R&D Leader
Mr. Nwakanma brings more than two decades of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, with a strong background in research and development, product innovation, and capability building. An Industrial Chemist by training, he also holds an MBA in General Management and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Chemists of Nigeria.
He currently serves as Unilever’s Research & Development Director for the Personal Care category across the Africa cluster. In this role, he oversees R&D strategy and project execution across multiple African markets.
His expertise spans a broad set of product categories, including Home Care, Personal Care, Baby Care, Pesticides, Laboratory Care, and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. Before joining Unilever, he served in senior R&D positions at PZ Cussons and Reckitt Benckiser, where he worked extensively on innovation processes and technical capability development.
Beyond corporate roles, Nwakanma has contributed to national industry bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), engaging in discussions on local sourcing, product quality, standards development, and workforce capacity. He has also participated in forums hosted by cosmetics associations, medical professionals, and the Federal Ministry of Science on topics relating to innovation and industrial growth.
Board Composition Now at 10 Members
With his addition, Unilever Nigeria’s Board now comprises 10 members. The current structure includes:
- Chairman: Mr. Bolaji Balogun
- Managing Director: Mr. Tobi Adeniyi
Independent Non-Executive Directors:
- Mr. Michael Ikpoki
- Mrs. Ngozi Edozien
- Mrs. Umma Yusuf Aboki
- Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi
Non-Executive Directors:
- Mr. Ben Langat
- Mr. Chika Nwobi
Executive Directors:
- Mr. Ibrahim Sodipe
- Mr. Uchenna Nwakanma
Strong Financial Performance in 2025
The company also reported a solid financial performance for the third quarter of 2025. Unilever Nigeria posted a pre-tax profit of ₦13.2 billion, a 72.67% year-on-year increase. This result contributed to a nine-month pre-tax profit of ₦37.4 billion, representing a 167.97% rise from the ₦13.9 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.