Ogun state Governor Prince Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, have inaugurated the expansion of its state-of-the-art Tropical General Investments (TGI) group Sagamu Factory Complex housing WASIL Limited and WACUB Limited.
Launching the TGI, a global conglomerate and leading contributor to the Nigerian economy at TGI’s Flowergate Mixed Development Complex, Sagamu, Ogun state, the governor commended the group for being a classic example of the success of Ogun state.
He said as he commissioned the second phase of the WASIL factory where Golden Terra Soya Oil is made, “You are a reference point in the Industry. A shining example of Foreign Direct Investment coming to Nigeria and doing things excellently.”
He added that the project attests to the state’s vision to create an enabling environment for private investors, leading to an improved state economy and the people’s standard of living.
Prince Abiodun noted, “If we are not genuinely implementing that vision, you won’t be expanding capacity here. The Group has also tried to reduce the state’s unemployment rate. By this project, there would be more employment for citizens and an increase in taxable citizens.
“I must commend your deep sense of Corporate Social Duties as well because I recall that during COVID, you were among those who rose to the occasion and supported us, and that is why you would continue to grow in leaps and bounds.”
The Minister’s visit to the Complex is part of the first phase of her nationwide tour of manufacturing facilities as she rolls out her Ministry’s Strategic Roadmap.
Leading the delegation during the commissioning, Group Managing Director of TGI Group, Rahul Savara said receiving the Governor and the Minister was an honour.
He said, “It is our distinguished honour and privilege to have the two of you together today to see what is happening here formally and also to commission some of our expansions that have happened in the recent past. Thank you very much for coming. We appreciate your visit.”
The Minister, who inaugurated the new extension of WACUB Limited, makers of Terra Seasoning Cubes, commended TGI for its significant contributions to employment and Nigeria’s economic development.
She said, “I am delighted and happy that we are witnessing this expansion of our industries. I specially want to applaud the Governor of Ogun State for making this happen. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu knows about the challenge of unemployment, pressure on manufacturing and economic diversification, and is determined to tackle it conclusively. The cost of inaction is high, and we cannot afford it. This project will go a long way in addressing some of these challenges. We appreciate TGI for this project and for being futuristic.”
Dr Uzoka-Anite added that the project will significantly increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and economic development.
Executive Director and Vice Chairman of Africa, TGI Group, Farouk Gumel, expressed the conglomerate’s gratitude to the governor and the Minister.
He assured the guests of TGI’s commitment to Nigeria’s growth with its extensive investments in sectors including food and beverage production, chemical manufacturing, poultry farming, marine aquaculture (covering both fish farming and deep-sea trawler operations), pharmaceutical manufacturing, real estate, agribusiness, and financial services.
“We appreciate our guests not just for today but because they have been with us for a very long time. They are good listeners and always take action afterwards. TGI is committed to providing solutions in agriculture. We are also building our fertilizer and Agro chemical plants nearby, which tells you we are progressing well.
“On behalf of the TGI group, we say thank you very much, and I wish Nigeria all the best going forward as we strive to do what we need to do, to deliver ourselves from all our problems; thank you very much,” Gumel said.
