There was a time in Nigeria when Ragolis Water was more than just a brand — it was bottled water itself. You didn’t need to say, “Buy bottled water.” You simply said, “Buy Ragolis.” That was the strength of its name, the reach of its reputation.
Launched in 1981 through a partnership between Nigeria’s Chagoury Group and France’s Société des Eaux de Volvic, Ragolis began full operations around 1984, sourcing its water from a natural spring in Ikorodu, Lagos. Clean. Classy. Pure. It became Nigeria’s first plastic-bottled water brand and earned ISO certification — standing head and shoulders above its peers.
By the early 2010s, Ragolis was producing over two million litres a month. The brand had expanded across major cities — Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, and Kaduna. It stood on top of the mountain.
But then… everything changed.
New contenders arrived. Brands like Eva (Coca-Cola), Nestlé Pure Life, Aquafina, and CWAY stormed the market with aggressive marketing, wider distribution networks, and deeper financial muscle. Ragolis tried to rebrand, but its voice was drowned in the noise.
Electricity prices soared. Diesel became unaffordable. Plastic bottles were imported, and the forex crisis didn’t help. Customers grew skeptical of “spring water” claims. Gradually, the once-great name faded into the shadows.
Today, Ragolis still exists. But it no longer leads the conversation.
Pause and reflect.
Where is Omo detergent now?
What happened to Sunlight?
Do you still see Mirinda?
Where are Sagem and Motorola phones?
What about the JVC sound system or the old Kito sandals we once loved?
Gone. Replaced. Forgotten.
Innovation wiped the slate clean.
Even the elderly we now see — wrinkled, grey, and slow — were once the finest men and most beautiful women of their time. They were the “slay queens” and campus celebrities of their generation.
But nothing lasts forever.
Beauty fades. Strength weakens. Relevance shifts. Power changes hands.
There was a time in life when I could read five nights in a row, no sleep, no stress. Today? If I try it, I might collapse. Someone may need to call emergency services.
Dear reader, use your strength while you still have it. Spend your beauty on purpose. Apply your relevance where it counts. Don’t wait until the spotlight moves away from you to begin building impact.
As Solomon once advised in his old age:
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.’” — Ecclesiastes 12:1
There’s a time for everything under the sun — including your own season.
Ragolis had its season. It was great. Then its time passed.
So will mine.
So will yours.
Let us learn. Let us act. Let us leave something behind that time cannot erase.
Where are those who once held the seats you now occupy?
Where are yesterday’s political titans?
Where are the names that once made the ground tremble?
Many are gone. Those who remain — are they still shaking the ground?
Time has humbled them.
That is the fleeting nature of “today.”
Yesterday is gone, buried with its glory. And today — though mourning yesterday — will also be buried tomorrow.
Let today be warned: we buried yesterday, and we will bury today too.
You will not always be strong. Not always relevant. Not always on top. That’s why wisdom demands that you plant well now — so you can reap bountifully later.
*Nwanne, were ôtutu chuwa ewu oji…*
Strike while the cutlass is still sharp.
The owner of Ragolis Water is not feeding on magic today. He is feeding on the seeds he planted during his prime. Imagine if he had wasted those years. What would he be doing now?
This isn’t just the story of Ragolis.
It’s the story of all of us.
You. Me. Everyone.
Time is passing. Seasons are shifting.
Use your now wisely.