Tamale, July 2, GNA - Unilever Ghana Limited has been urged to exploit the industrial potential of the Northern Region and invest in viable ventures in the area to create jobs and enhance the development of the Region.

Sheanuts, groundnuts and soya beans have been identified as crops rich in oil and are therefore potential areas where Unilever could invest to the mutual benefit of the Company and the economy of the country and the Region as a whole.

Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, Deputy Northern Regional Minister made the call at the "Lipton Maiden Bike Race", which was jointly sponsored by Forsmuel Limited, a Unilever key distributor and Lipton Tea, a subsidiary of the company as part of activities to commemorate this year's Republic Day Anniversary in Tamale on Saturday.

About 100 "Lipton racers," including three ladies took part in the 16- kilometre race, which took the competitors through some of the principal streets of the Tamale Municipality.

Master Ganiyu Issahaku who emerged first in a time of 48 minutes 18 seconds, received a set of silver bowls as his prize. Master Gundana A. Azumah and Sulemana Mohammed who placed second and third with times of 48 minutes 26 seconds and 48 minutes 33 seconds respectively received a re-chargeable lamp and a "Ghetto-blaster" radio cassette player each as their prizes.

The other competitors were presented with consolation prizes of pieces of wax prints and blenders among other items.

Mr Adam appealed to Unilever to consider sponsoring brilliant students from the Northern Region to pursue courses in higher institutions abroad as it had done in other parts of the country. He also asked the Company to assist in the sponsorship of musicians in the Region to improve their talents since the musicians had shown a lot of promise in the music industry.

The Deputy Minister commended Unilever for organising the competition and noted that sports was one of the activities, which did not only foster unity among the people but also promoted healthy living. Mr Michael Dua, Northern Regional Manager of Unilever announced that the Company sold about 85 tonnes of Lipton tea in the three Northern Regions last year and expressed the hope that this year, there would be an improvement in the sale of the company's products.