Unilever Nigeria Plc has announced a significant addition to its leadership team with the appointment of Mr Uchenna Nwakanma as an Executive Director of the Board, effective November 13, 2025.
The company disclosed the development in an official notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), stating: “This is to notify the Nigerian Exchange Limited and investing public that the Board of Directors of Unilever Nigeria PLC (Unilever or the Company) has appointed Mr Uchenna Nwakanma as an Executive Director of the Board with effect from 13th November 2025.”
The Board expressed confidence in his appointment, adding: “The Board warmly welcomes Mr Uchenna Nwakanma and wishes him all the best in his new role.”
Nwakanma brings more than two decades of expertise in Research and Development across Africa’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) landscape. The company described him as “an accomplished Research & Development (R&D) Business Leader with over 20 years of experience driving innovation, product excellence, and strategic growth across Africa’s fast-moving consumer goods industry.”
He currently serves as Unilever’s R&D Director for the Personal Care category across the Africa Cluster, where he oversees innovation strategies and product development tailored to diverse consumer needs. According to the statement, “Uchenna currently serves as Research & Development Director for Unilever in Personal Care Category across the Africa Cluster, where he leads the regional R&D strategy, ensuring the successful delivery of innovation projects that meet evolving consumer needs across diverse markets.”
His expertise spans multiple product segments, including Home Care, Baby Care, Personal Care, Pesticides, Lavatory Care, and OTC pharmaceuticals. The release highlighted his ability to guide multidisciplinary teams, noting his “consistent track record of leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact innovations that balance technical rigour, consumer insight, and regulatory compliance.”
Before joining Unilever, Nwakanma held key R&D leadership roles at PZ Cussons and Reckitt Benckiser, where he led innovation pipelines and capability-building initiatives that strengthened both companies’ presence across the continent.
Recognised as a strong advocate for sustainable manufacturing and local value creation, he has worked closely with organisations such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). The press release noted that he has championed “initiatives that promote local sourcing, quality excellence, and talent development in Nigeria’s manufacturing ecosystem.”
Beyond corporate leadership, Nwakanma has also shared his expertise in public forums. The company stated that “He has contributed his expertise in different forums across African Cosmetic bodies/Associations, the Medical Association and the Federal Ministry of Science, Nigeria, as a public Speaker on topics related to Innovation as a panacea for country development.”
Nwakanma holds a degree in Industrial Chemistry, an MBA in General Management, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Chemists of Nigeria.
News.ng reports that his appointment is expected to bolster Unilever Nigeria’s strategic direction as the company continues to strengthen its market position and advance innovation-driven growth.
Unilever Nigeria ended trading on Monday, November 17, 2025, at ₦73.00 per share on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX), reflecting a slight decline of 0.7% from its previous closing price of ₦73.50. Despite the minor dip, the stock has delivered a strong performance throughout the year.
Starting 2025 at ₦32.95, Unilever’s share price has climbed by 122% so far, placing it among the better-performing equities on the Exchange and earning it the 32nd spot on the NGX’s year-to-date performance rankings.
