Peak Milk manufacturer, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, has apologised to the Christian Association of Nigeria for using the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as a metaphor to promote their product on Good Friday, stating that the social media advertisement has been removed.
While acknowledging the sensitivity of the social media post “considering the sobriety of the season,” the organisation stated that it was not intended to minimise the significance of the season or to overly exploit Jesus Christ’s unrivalled sacrifice.
Ore Famurewa, Executive Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc (Corporate Affairs), expressed regret in a letter to CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh dated April 10, 2023, titled “Apology for the Good Friday social media post by the Peak Brand.”
“We hereby reaffirm our unwavering commitment to nurturing Nigeria while upholding all religious laws, tenets, and guidelines.
“Once again, please accept our heartfelt apologies and pledge to avoid a recurrence in the future. Please accept my sincere greetings,” Famurewa said.
CAN had described the Peak Milk advertisement as “insensitive, offensive, and totally unacceptable” in a statement by its General Secretary, Joseph Daramola.
While warning all companies and organisations to be mindful of their customers’ religious and cultural sensitivities when promoting their products, CAN had said it was considering serious sanctions against the firm, including a Christian boycott of their products.
The Christian organisation had stated that any attempt to trivialise or disrespect the Gospel faith would be met with a resounding rebuke.
Since the advertisement, there had been a public outcry among Christendom which described it as “blasphemous.”
Daramola said the advertisement was not only disrespectful to the Christian faith but also an affront to the millions of Christians in Nigeria and beyond.
He had said, “Good Friday is a solemn day for Christians all over the world, a day we commemorate the death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who was crucified on the cross for our sins. It is not a day to be used for crass commercial purposes.
“FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC’s action is not only disrespectful to the Christian faith but also an affront to the millions of Christians in Nigeria and beyond. We are deeply disappointed that a company of such repute would stoop so low to exploit the religious sentiments of its customers for profit.”
