By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Impressed by the friendly business environment and availability of human and natural resources in Gombe State, a renowned Lagos business mogul, Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele, has began plans to establish another cement factory in Gombe State.
Already, Gombe State host one of Nigeria’s biggest cement production factory, ‘Ashaka Cement’ brand, managed by Lafarge International and Dr. Ogundele says he is ready to expend his resources in build another cement factory in the State.
Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Sojimoto Group Holdings, after spending two days exploring opportunities in the State, told the State Deputy Governor that apart from the cement factory, he also plans to engage in mechanised farming in the State.
During the business discussion in the office of the State Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau, Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele said his company has interest in cement production and mechanised agriculture with the aim of easing housing problems and food insecurity.
The investor, who had earlier visited the Palace of the Emir of Gombe, the multi billion naira Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, the famous Dadinkowa Dam among other investment hubs, told the Deputy Governor that he is ready for mutually beneficial business.
According to him, he has had a burning desire to replicate the French Industrial standard in Nigeria after returning from France ten years ago, leading him to start his own Company in Nigeria.
He said, “When you are exposed to extra ordinary ambition you want to dream high” adding that, it was this determination to change the narration of his people that pushed him into seeking to address some of the nations problems.
He also explained that the company is spread into five areas covering construction, mechanised agriculture, Financial Technology (Fintech) Real Estate and Manufacturing.
He said, they intend to establish a cement company in Gombe State as well as investing in the area of mechanised farming with a view to making Gombe State a strong chain in the long chain of development in Nigeria.
Speaking for the Gombe State Government, Manassah Daniel Jatau, expressed the administration’s strong political will in realising the industrialization and food security dream of the Inuwa led Government.
He said the establishment of the Buhari Industrial Park was born out of the Governments desire to engage the teaming unemployed youths to develop the economy of the state because it’s Internally Generated Revenue and the federation allocation is low.
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He told the Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele that the location of the industrial park at Dadinkowa was because of its proximity to the hydropower plant for adequate power supply for the companies and that Gombe is not only peaceful, but endowed with abundance of natural resources. He assured the investor that his company will have a hitch free business in the state.
The team of Sijimoto Group Holdings included, Honourable Umar Usman, Ahmed Magem and Alhaji Suleiman Dawu among others while the Industrial Park interim Chairman, Alhaji Nuhu Bashir, led the committee members during the visit.
