By Lucy Ogalue
The Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr Olasupo Olusi, has reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing in Nigeria.
Olusi said this when he visited the G U Ebeco facility and inspected ongoing projects at the Nisa Medical and Zeberced Group at the Idu Indstrial Layout, Abuja on Thursday.
He expressed delight at the progress made so far at the various facilities , while commending the chief executives of the organisations, and urging them to do more.
During the visit to the G U Ebeco, the BOI boss emphasised the importance of job creation and the need for their products to proudly bear the “Made in Nigeria” label.
Olusi praised GU Ebeco’s progress over the past seven years, applauding its expansion into a national enterprise with over 1,500 employees and several facilities across the country.
“I am very happy with the fact that BOI has supported this enterprise for the last seven years. It is wonderful to see that it has grown.
“It employs 1,500 staff, and operates a national distribution system. We are proud of the significant role GU Ebeco is playing in the Nigerian manufacturing landscape,” he said.
The BOI boss also commended the loan repayment performance of the company., Saying it had taken multiple facilities from the BOI.
He encouraged other young entrepreneurs to stay focused, while assuring them of BOI’s commitment to supporting them and Nigeria’s industrialisation efforts.
Responding Mr Ebere Uzozie, Managing Director of GU Ebeco, expressed his appreciation for the continued support from the BOI.
“We are grateful for the Bank of Industry’s backing. Their loans have helped us expand and create lasting change. We now have 34 facilities, and we are debt-free.
” We are optimistic the visit will mark a new chapter for the company, and will ensure further growth and partnerships that will contribute to Nigeria’s industrial future,” Uzozie said.
Meanwhile, at the Zeberced Group, its Managing Director, Mr Aydin Kurt, said that Nigeria had lots of potential and could be the future of the world.
While acknowledging the country’s potential in industrialisation, he emphasised the importance of producing locally in Nigeria rather than relying on imports.
Kurt also appealed for more collaboration with the BOI to promote industrialisation, create jobs and help grow the economy.
” I can not do it alone. we have to come together and create a synergy to attract different investors to come and also invest in this country.
” This is our vision we have alot to share with you, and thank you once again for visiting our corporations,” he said.
Responding, the BOI managing director said that the bank was keen on infrastructure and committed to supporting industrious infrastructure.
“This project is very important to us and a critical objective for the county and, in that spirit, we have decided that we will continue to support the proliferation of industrial parts across the nation.
Why yours is so unique is because it has a plan for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which is very important.
“We have a mandate to support that particular segment of our economy because they are the ones that champion job creation and most of the growth of the economy is attributed to them,” Olusi said.
The BOI boss thanked Zeberced Group for the opportunity, while commending the groups’ vision, energy and optimism to carry the project forward.
” We look forward to our partnership. Like I said, we all want to be parts and parcel of this project, we have already given you some money to implement it, and we will see how we can do more.
” As you expand we will support, but you have to also show us the job creation numbers, and make sure your goods are branded made in nigeria,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that GU Ebeco is a furniture company while Zeberced is a construction company. (NAN)