…as Gov Ayade meets investors in UK
The Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, on Monday signed an agreement with two notable institutions from the United Kingdom to establish Construction Academy in Calabar, a Teachers’ Training Institute in Obubra, and nursery, primary and secondary schools in Obudu, which will be affiliated with UK universities.
The two UK institutions are Schools Company and Construction Academy.
Also, in order to further its investment drive, the governor reached a partnership agreement with Footprint to Africa to produce a documentary that will showcase to the world “The Real Cross River” with massive but untapped opportunities.
Footprint to Africa, a Nigerian business and financial news resource and investment bridge company, is currently filming a documentary on the Nigerian economy in partnership with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).
These agreements, which are part of efforts to develop the economic potential of Cross River State and attract foreign direct investment, were reached during the governor’s meeting with a cross-section of the business community in London.
The meeting, which took place at London’s Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel, was also attended by Falcon Group led by its CEO, Ani Wellington.
Governor Ayade announced that the educational institutions would be established across the three senatorial districts of the state, stressing that his administration attaches significant importance to the value of education for the people of Cross River and, indeed, Nigeria’s over 40 percent youth population. The state, with a population of 4 million peace-loving, highly educated and elegant people inhabiting an area of 21,000 sq. metre, he said, is the ideal destination for investors.
Ayade tasked the UK partners to build quality schools that will further help to raise future African leaders, fixing February 20, 2017 as official handover date of the Construction Academy site to the investors.
Elias Achilleos of Schools Academy, who was delighted at the signing of the agreement, expressed satisfaction with the governor’s passion for education and his achievement in the sector so far and promised to deliver the highest level of excellence in the schools to promote the attainment of knowledge.
Osita Oparaugo, CEO, Footprint to Africa, while commending the governor for his vision and leadership quality in conceiving and executing various landmark projects, noted that the economic documentary would further persuade investors to “Think Nigeria – Invest Cross River”.
The governor also met with South African project developing firm represented by Daan van Rensburg, owner and director of WAD Holdings, who also represented Moravia Capital with a large portfolio committed to investing in the super highway and deep seaport projects embarked upon by the state.
Governor Ayade described the projects as economic projects with significant value to the state, Nigeria and, indeed, neighbouring African countries.
He noted the urgent need for new seaports in the country to ease congestion at the existing ports, caused by massive importation of goods for Nigeria’s market of over 170 million people, adding that export activities were bound to experience an upsurge with the country’s return to agriculture and development of the mining sector.
The governor had earlier visited China and Dubai and is expected to continue his FDI drive with visits to three other overseas countries
