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In a bid to create opportunities for youths and the overall economic development of South West region, Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) is now focusing on agriculture to address food insecurity and technology business.
Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, the Chairman, Board of Directors of OICL, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen at the opening of the company’s liaison office in Lagos.
Ashiru explained that food insecurity was increasing in the region and the whole country, adding that it is pertinent to treat agric business with higher priority.
“We want to focus on food growing. We need food in this country, that is why we are focusing on it. We are also focusing on technology because we are in a new age that is driven by technology. We want the youths to be able to do things with us. Already, we have a project with the Ogun State Government. Our foundation is also focusing on information technology. We are driving the IT hub from this Lagos liaison office.” He said.
On the new office, located on the 15th floor of Western House, Broad Street, Lagos, Ashiru said: “We are making history to ensure that our foreign and local partners are able to come in and hold meetings with us here. We do not want them to be travelling to Ibadan. Some of them just want to fly to Lagos, have discussions with us and fly back to their countries or other locations in Nigeria. We are making sure that whatever we are doing, we are upholding global standards.”
Speaking, the company’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa, said the liaison office will “act as an information hub centre for gathering market intelligence, conducting research and facilitating collaboration between OICL and potential business partners, clients or shareholders.
Because of this multi-faceted role, we have South West Agribusiness Company (SWAgCo) and South West Innovation and Tech Company (SWIT) as neighbouring offices in facilitating cross-border interactions, fostering international relationship and expanding the frontier of OICL.”
He added that the office has been well structured for comfortability and ease of operation for better proficiency.
At the event were representatives of Lagos State Government, the company’s directors, members of the management and other stakeholders.