The Moukarim family, who founded Mouka in 1972, have been developing businesses in West Africa for over 100 years. Mouka incorporates the largest polyurethane production plant in the region and a network of 400 registered distributors and 5,000 sub-distributors now serve Nigeria and the surrounding countries.

Over the last decade demand for Mouka’s products, which also include spring mattresses and polyurethane blocks, pillows and sheeting used to make furniture, has grown as Nigeria’s emerging middle class swells and young people start leaving home earlier and setting up independent households. The country’s industrial boom has also led to an increased need for hotel accommodation. In response to the rising demand, Mouka has set up an additional manufacturing plant in northern Nigeria to further grow the business.

Actis’s US$14m investment in Mouka in 2007 has helped it evolve from a well-respected family owned business into a sustainable, successful corporation with a growing market share. At board level this has involved implementing best practice corporate governance and executing efficiency drives across the manufacturing process, logistic and supply chains.

Mouka’s reputation for quality has also helped the company to grow its customer base, successfully launching a redesign of two of its most popular mattress brands Flora and Legend in September 2010 and developing two new products to target the youth and lower income markets. Mouka’s aim is to become not just Nigeria’s leading mattress manufacturer but Africa’s.