NEPZA restates support for Ogun host communities

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to community development around the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone, highlighting interventions in education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment and agriculture.

The Administrative Manager of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Mr Steven Makanjuola, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone, Igbesa, on Wednesday, where he outlined the zone’s contributions to industrial development, community welfare and Nigeria–China economic relations.

Makanjuola said the zone’s operations went beyond attracting investments and promoting industrialisation, stressing that its long-term growth depended on constructive relationships with host communities.

“We recognise that our growth depends not only on investment but also on the relationships we build with the people around us. We value this partnership and remain committed to making our presence meaningful to our host communities,

“The  Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone was established to promote industrialisation, attract investment and strengthen economic cooperation between Nigeria and China”

He explained that the zone had become a platform for businesses to operate, partnerships to flourish, jobs to be created and skills to be developed, while translating bilateral relations between both countries into industrial investments, technology exchange and local economic opportunities.

Highlighting the zone’s interventions in education, Makanjuola said it had established and maintained the China–Nigeria Friendship School in Igbesa for more than 14 years.

He said the school currently catered for over 700 pupils and had been recognised by education stakeholders as one of the leading public primary schools in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The NEPZA official added that the zone had also pioneered an inter-school knowledge competition for public schools across its host communities, benefiting more than 10,000 students over the years.

Beyond the competition, he said, the zone had supported public schools with sound systems, mowing machines, musical instruments, sports equipment, stationery and food items, while offering cash prizes to outstanding schools to encourage academic excellence.

He added that “We constructed a modern hospital block for the community. We also periodically donate medical supplies to hospitals and organize medical outreaches for our host communities.

“We constructed roads connecting communities, including the Oba Adesola Market Road, which has opened up Igbesa for greater commercial activity. These roads are estimated to benefit more than 350,000 people.

“Through our annual empowerment programme, we have supported hundreds of youths with grants and business starter kits to establish or grow their businesses and pursue independent livelihoods.Our solar-powered community water facility provides access to water for more than 5,000 people”

Providing further details of the Zone’s community development initiatives, its Public Relations Manager, Mr Tope Anthony, said the interventions went beyond industrial investment to address practical community needs, improve livelihoods and promote sustainable development.

Anthony explained that the programmes complemented the Zone’s core objectives of attracting investment, promoting industrialisation, generating employment and deepening economic cooperation between Nigeria and China.

On education, he said the Zone had established and sustained the China–Nigeria Friendship School in Igbesa for more than 14 years. The school currently has over 700 pupils and has been recognised by education stakeholders as one of the leading public primary schools in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He added that the OGFTZ pioneered an inter-school knowledge competition involving public schools across its host communities, with more than 10,000 students benefiting from the initiative over the years.

According to him, the Zone has also supported public schools with educational and extracurricular materials, including sound systems, sewing machines, musical instruments, sports equipment, stationery and food items.

Cash prizes have equally been awarded to outstanding schools to encourage academic excellence and foster healthy competition among students.

While acknowledging the progress recorded, Makanjuola however stressed that community development was a continuous process requiring sustained engagement and responsiveness to changing needs.

He noted that the Zone recognised the importance of addressing emerging challenges and working with host communities to identify areas requiring further attention.

Makanjuola reaffirmed the OGFTZ’s commitment to maintaining engagement with traditional institutions, community leaders, residents, government agencies and other stakeholders to identify priority needs and develop further interventions.

He said the Zone would continue to pursue initiatives that improve community welfare while advancing its broader objectives of industrial growth, employment generation and mutually beneficial economic relations between Nigeria and China.

The initiatives, he added, reflect the Zone’s efforts to combine industrial development with community-focused interventions aimed at improving livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities in its host communities