Only Strategic Collaboration Among Technology-driven Nigerian Companies Can Fast-track Infrastructural Devt, Says Azibaola

The founder of Zeetin, Nigeria’s precision engineering company, Robert Azibaola, has stated that only strategic collaboration among technology-driven Nigerian companies can provide a veritable vehicle for the fast-tracking of the infrastructural development of the country.

Azibaola, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who received the management of Hydrlopolis Investment Limited, the subsidiary of Mainstream Energy Solutions and operators of the Kainji Dam Hydro, on a working visit to Zeetin Factory, as part of the collaborative efforts for the industrialisation of Nigeria, particularly on the building of the Hydropolis’ industrial park in Kainji, Niger State.

As part of its investment, Hydropolis is commencing the building of the first of its kind Free Trade Zone (FTZ) one-stop industrial park to house over 200 industries, together with an international airport, a luxury city and forest reserves that will also drive tourism in Nigeria.

The Hydropolis’ visit, led by Dr. Abdulmalik Ndagi, its project coordinator, expressed satisfaction over Zeetin’s capacity to provide the technology backup for the building of the industrial park, as well as the continuous provision of spares for the various industries to be located in the park.

While welcoming the Hydropolis team, Azibaola said: “Nigeria’s infrastructural development can easily be fast-tracked when our companies, especially those that are technology-driven, collaborate strategically for the overall infrastructural development and growth of Nigeria. That is what we are doing here in Zeetin.

“We are providing pioneer engineering solutions to Nigeria for the overall development of the country. This will spur several other Nigerians and companies to follow suit, and before you know, Nigeria will emerge as a technologically-advanced country to reckon with.”

While responding, Ndagi said Zeetin and Hydropolis would work out modalities that would enable the two companies work together for the realisation of Hydropolis’ laudable projects in Nigeria.

He said: “What we have come to see in Zeetin has overtaken our own plan. We need to work out modalities on how we can work with Zeetin to replicate this factory in our industrial park.

“This will help us bring down the cost of our project which will also enable us accomplish it faster in the interest of Nigeria.

“The machines you have here (at Zeetin) are far beyond what we envisaged, and they will be of great benefit to us. So, there’s definitely a need for us to have collaboration with Zeetin.”

The investment company is the promoter and developer of the Hydropolis Free Trade Zone; its flagship investments comprising Afani Industrial Park, Afani Smart City, and Hydropolis international/cargo airport, all located within the Hydropolis FTZ.

After inspection of Zeetin assembled machines at the factory, both companies agreed to work out modalities for the common benefit of the respective companies, especially for the realisation of the industrial park in Kainji, which construction has already commenced in earnest.