By Salim Yunusa
The founder of NASCO Group, producer of one of the most popular biscuit brands in Nigeria, died at the age of 96.
Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong, in a condolence message signed by his spokesman, Makut Macham, expressed grief over the demise of the nonagenarian.
The Governor described the death of the patriarch as a great loss not only to his family and NASCO, but to Plateau people and Nigeria.
He eulogised Ahmed Nasreddin as a visionary leader, who established NASCO in Jos in 1963, as the first jute bag factory in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa in response to the desire of the nation’s founding fathers to meet the challenges for the effective bagging, storage and export of the large agricultural products in the country.
“This vision by the late Ahmed Idris Nasreddin saw the company growing from its little beginnings to become a major conglomerate with successful companies in manufacturing, real estate, hospitality and logistics, trading among others.
“NASCO has over the years remained a major employer of labour in Plateau and continues to contribute to the economic prosperity of the State and Nigeria at large through tax revenue and corporate social responsibility.
He noted that because of the faith that the late Ahmed Nasreddin had in Plateau, NASCO remained rooted in the state in spite of the difficult moments and experiences of various crises which affected its development.
Governor Lalong, while condoling with the family, management and staff of the NASCO conglomerate, said the legacies of the business mogul would continue to prevail.
He expressed confidence that the company he founded many years ago would continue to wax stronger, as operated successfully by his son, Attia Nasreddin, and other members of the family.
Lalong assured the NASCO family of the support and collaboration of the state government in their operations, while praying God to grant his soul eternal rest.
