BBM 78 - July 2024

BBM • JULY - TEMMUZ 2024 35 NEWS HABER “Flour.Power.Life, the motto of our museum, underlines how essential flour is as the basis of human nutrition. It con- tributes to health and prosperity, and enables societies to develop and thrive. These fundamental principles are em- bodied by John G. Coumantaros, who has redefined food supply in Nigeria,” said museum founder Volkmar Wywiol of the induction of Coumantaros into the Hall of Fame of the milling industry. John G. Coumantaros was born in 1961. After becoming Chairman of the Board of FMN in 2014, he grew the company into one of the world’s largest milling operations and led its evolution to become one of Africa’s largest food business- es. The company operates a mill in Apapa, Lagos, which has an impressive daily capacity of over 8,000 tonnes of flour. Coumantaros’ vision was always to supply Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, with safe and affordable food. The promotion of local grain varieties is a central com- ponent of this vision. By investing in research and devel- opment and in close collaboration with farmers, FMN con- tributes to reducing dependence on imported wheat and boosting the food security of Nigeria, whose current popu- lation of 216 million is projected to almost double by 2050. This approach is also a model for sustainable agricultural practices in other countries. Torsten Wywiol, CEO of the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe, and Roger D. Gilbert, publisher of the trade journal Milling & Grain, honoured John G. Coumantaros in person for his out- standing achievements. Together they presented him with a bronze sculpture in the form of a millstone, created by renowned sculptor Sibylle Waldhausen. At the award cer- emony Wywiol said, “It is my great privilege today to honour a man who as a true pioneer has made a lasting mark on the milling and food industry in Nigeria, John G. Coumantaros. John embodies in an ideal way the values that we uphold in the Milling Hall of Fame: Dedication, passion and innovation. He is a shining example of how the visionary efforts of one person can change the world for the better.” Coumantaros was moved by his induction into Milling Hall of Fame. “I am deeply honoured to accept this award. It recognizes not only my life’s work and all the employees of Flour Mills of Nigeria, but also the legacy of my father, George S. Coumantaros, on whose shoulders I stand.” Cou- mantaros also emphasized the continuing dedication of FMN: “We are committed to expanding our capacity and continuing to provide the building blocks for supplying Af- rica with staple foods. Food security is a central challenge of our time, and we take our responsibility very seriously.” John G. Coumantaros joins a select group of paceset- ters and personalities in the Milling Hall of Fame. These in- clude museum founder and flour treatment pioneer Volkmar Wywiol, Martin Schlauri of Bühler AG, and Jamal Al-Hazaa, Chairman of the Jordanian Al-Hazaa Investment Group, all of whom were honoured for their groundbreaking contribu- tions to the milling industry and technology. gerçek bir öncü olarak Nijerya’daki değirmencilik ve gıda en- düstrisinde kalıcı bir iz bırakmış olan John G. Coumantaros’u onurlandırmak benim için büyük bir ayrıcalık. John, Milling Hall of Fame’de savunduğumuz değerleri ideal bir şekilde temsil etmektedir: Adanmışlık, tutku ve yenilikçilik. Kendisi, tek bir kişinin vizyoner çabalarının dünyayı nasıl daha iyi hale getire- bileceğinin parlak bir örneğidir.” Coumantaros, Değirmencilik Onur Listesi’ne kabul edilme- sinden dolayı çok duygulandı. “Bu ödülü kabul etmekten bü- yük onur duyuyorum. Bu ödül sadece benim ve Flour Mills of Nigeria’nın tüm çalışanlarının değil, aynı zamanda omuzların- da durduğum babam George S. Coumantaros’un mirasını da takdir ediyor.” Coumantaros ayrıca FMN’nin devam eden bağ- lılığının da altını çizdi: “Kapasitemizi genişletmeye ve Afrika’ya temel gıda tedariki için yapı taşları sağlamaya devam etmeye kararlıyız. Gıda güvenliği çağımızın en önemli sorunlarından biri ve biz sorumluluğumuzu çok ciddiye alıyoruz.” John G. Coumantaros, Değirmencilik Onur Listesi’nde yer alan seçkin bir grup öncü ve şahsiyetin arasına katıldı. Bunlar arasında müze kurucusu ve un işleme öncüsü Volkmar Wywi- ol, Bühler AG’den Martin Schlauri ve Ürdünlü Al-Hazaa Yatırım Grubu Başkanı Jamal Al-Hazaa gibi değirmencilik endüstrisi ve teknolojisine çığır açan katkılarından dolayı onurlandırılan isimler yer alıyor.