In the league of Nigeria’s philanthropists, Chief Simeon Eyisi, the Chairman and CEO of SIMS Nigeria Limited, occupies a prominent place. As a business leader and industrialist, he not only inspires others with his grassto-grace narrative that exalts the virtues of hard work, vision and perseverance; he also sets examples for others on the necessity for altruism in the Church and community. What’s more, his life teaches that entrepreneurship is a service to the country.
His support for the Catholic Church through the weekly advertorial he places in The Catholic Herald weekly newspaper is a mainstay for the publication and the Directorate of Social Communications of the Archdiocese of Lagos. For over three years, his company, SIMS Nigeria Limited, has consistently made these weekly investments in The Catholic Herald newspaper by placing product advertisements on page 2 of the Lagos Archdiocesan publication. As a well-known Catholic entrepreneur with remarkable achievements in the country’s philanthropic and business sectors, Chief Eyisi tops the list of The Herald 100, an award category that recognises 100 Catholic personalities of the Archdiocese of Lagos who render trailblazing selfless services to the Church and mankind.
A philanthropist of repute who is highly regarded for his business acumen, Chief Eyisi’s greatness is rooted in humble beginnings. A native of Eziaja, Neni, in Anambra State, he worked with Ibeanu Brothers and Company Limited, one of the biggest distributors of electronics in the South East in the 1970s and 80s. Starting as a salesman, he rose through the ranks to become branch marketing officer, supervisor and manager. He subsequently utilised the experience to establish SIMS Nigeria Limited in 1987 as a one-shop company at No. 2 Ogui Road, in Enugu.
In time, he built the small enterprise into a pagoda of business success. As an electronic company, SIMS grew from a mere sales outlet into a company that imported electronics brands and eventually became a manufacturing company, following its expansion westward into Lagos. In 2003, Eyisi took the bold and strategic step to sign a special agreement with Samsung, the Korean electronic and household appliances giant, to begin assembling in Nigeria the products it had been importing for distribution in the country and the West Africa region. In 27 years, he built a company that is the official regional representative of several worldclass electronics, including such household names as Samsung and Panasonic and other prestigious brands like Royal, TCL and Sukam.
He structured the conglomerate, diversified its operations to include manufacturing, distribution, service, retail and property development, and made it the leading source of uninterrupted power supply solutions. By continuously growing SIMS Nigeria Limited, Chief Eyisi continuously creates job opportunities for young people and engenders economic growth for the country. On the religious front, Chief Eyisi, a member of the esteemed Knights of St. Mulumba and Papal Knight of St. Sylvester, single-handedly built the Parish House, the official residence of Priests, at St. Michael Catholic Church, Eziaja, Neni. He also contributed immensely to the training of at least two Reverend Fathers in the various Dioceses, parishes and religious formations that he has been associated with directly and even remotely. In the social sphere, he has brought about some notable developmental and cultural activities in his hometown, notably the construction of several roads and installing streetlights.
His act of giving back to society extends to support for education and business apprenticeship, which has seen many youths benefit from his multi-level scholarship schemes and financial empowerment. One of his recent charities in this regard is the sponsorship of 64 students, made up of 42 undergraduates and 20 postgraduates, across top universities in Nigeria. In addition to these efforts, he also supports several schools with modern technological equipment, like computers, to enhance learning among both the pupils and their teachers. His humanitarian efforts resonate in society and are well appreciated. A testament to such appreciation was his elevation to the membership of the Ozo-Ezeana Society, the highest traditional body in Neni.
Chief Eyisi steadfastly supports the Church Parishes and the Archdiocese in a manner that truly reflects his standing as a 4th Degree Knight of the Order of St. Mulumba. He is seen as a business leader who is continuously used by God to improve the lives of many people in Nigeria and overseas. This is true to the extent that his businesses feed thousands of families and individuals in Nigeria and beyond. Chief Eyisi is an exemplary philanthropist: worthy of the number one position on the list of distinct charitable Catholics; he is undoubtedly, qualified as the Face of The Herald 100.
- Neta Nwosu is the Editor of The Catholic Herald weekly newspaper