The reason that we celebrate Africa on this date is because on May 25, 1963, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor of the current African Union (AU), was established.
The African continent is very vast, with distinct climates and cultures in different countries and regions, so people’s needs for cooling and air innovations also differ greatly. Considering Africa’s rich diversity, Daikin is developing businesses that are as deeply rooted in the local community as in other regions.
Zooming in on Nigeria
Let's look at Daikin's business in Nigeria as one example.
As a leader in the global HVAC-R industry, Daikin aims to grow together with local communities.
In Nigeria, members of the Daikin Nigeria office, established in 2020, are working with a number of local business partners to promote products with superior performance and high energy efficiency.
In Lagos, the capital city, Daikin, with the help of a business partner, is engaged in semi-knockdown production of residential air conditioners for the Nigerian market. Based on the Global Daikin Group's proximity strategy of producing and selling products close to the market, Daikin Nigeria strives to provide products that meet local needs in a timely manner.
Production partner Sacral industries
Going to the gemba
In sales, Daikin works with local distributors to thoroughly listen to a large variety of voices of gemba, including developers, contractors, consultants, facility managers, end users and so on. Gemba is a Japanese word meaning ‘the real place’, emphasizing the importance of directly observing and understanding business processes and operations on-site. The goal is to see and hear first-hand how work is done, to get a deeper understanding of any inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement. This Lean management principle is a key practice for Daikin leaders and employees around the world.
One of them, Zansi Adebowale, Key Account Manager at Daikin's Nigeria office says: "We make every effort to be close to our customers. We visit our customers' gemba, of course, but we also publish a newsletter with case studies of our deliveries and organize soccer tournaments with our engineers. We also take professional customers on guided tours of Daikin factories in Dubai, Italy, India and other countries to help them understand the high quality of Daikin's products. Through these activities, we are able to grasp people's needs and propose products and solutions that offer superior performance and even greater energy efficiency in a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial applications."
Distributor DaiTech Nigeria Limited with Zansi Adebowale (far left)
Distributor EMC with Cyril Ogu and Lukman Makinde (foreground)
Training a new wave of HVAC-R technicians
Daikin's efforts are not limited to production and sales. Nigeria has a large population, and the demand for cooling and air conditioners is expected to further grow in the future. Therefore, it is very important to train people who can install and maintain air conditioners. Daikin is working with local vocational schools to train a new wave of technicians.
At Field of Skills and Dreams (FSD), a vocational training school in Lagos, about 40 students are learning about air conditioning services using educational programs and products provided by Daikin. The school offers 6-week, 3-month and 6-month courses, where students learn theoretical and practical skills, followed by an internship to become full-fledged technicians.
Ogunsanya Tolulope, a student at the school, says with great anticipation: "I entered this school because I knew that no matter where I went, I would be able to make a living with the HVAC skills I gained here. My dream is to work for an HVAC company for a few years after graduation, gain experience, and then start my own business."
Ogunsanya Tolulope
FSD administrators and students
Cyril Ogu, the head of the Daikin Nigeria office, who manages the members of the Daikin Nigeria office, said: " I love working for Daikin Nigeria. Since the office was established in 2020, our sales in Nigeria have more than doubled. We are confident that the Nigerian market still has great potential. At Daikin, as a leader in the global HVAC industry, we always aim to continue to grow together with local communities."
Cyril Ogu
