The Manager of Ondo State Industrial Hub, Chief Alex Ajipe has said that the hub would generate no fewer than 20,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities when working at its full capacity.
Alex Ajipe revealed this when he hosted the First Lady of the state, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu at the hub in Omotoso, Ore Expressway in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The industrial hub, which is called Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub, came into being by signing of MOU between Linyi City in Shangai Province of China and Ondo State Government.
Ajipe, who is the Chief Executive Officer, Klick Konnect Networks, said that no fewer than 15 different companies were already sited in the hub for operations which included wood processing, textile company, exploration and agriculture.
“At the moment, we have textile mill which is producing sewing thread, polyester embroidery and it will soon start to produce fabrics, lace and ankara.
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“There is wood mill specialising in producing ply wood and an agro allied chemical company which is 60 per cent completed.
“Also, there is cassava ethanol plant which is only awaiting to be connected with electricity for operation.
“This will require one million tons of cassava every year and it means more money for cassava farmers.
“In fact, the company is ready to assist those cassava farmers in getting multiple harvest,” he stated.
The manager added that before the end of 2019, an automobile assembly would arrive the hub for assembling different forms of vehicle.
“Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the state governor, on behalf of the state government, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)with Dolphing Company of China to have Chinese mall, where over 100 businesses have subscribed to in producing different wares.
“We are expecting an automobile assembly to arrive in some months to this time in assembling different vehicles here in this industrial hub,”he noted.
According to him, the hub will have a training centre, to be called African College of Agriculture Vocational and Technical Studies, where interested people could acquire needed manpower technology.
Responding, Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu said she was in the hub with her team, FOWOSO, to be witnesses to industrial giant strides of the state governor.
The First Lady described the state governor as a man of purpose, of high integrity and vision who meant well for advancement of the state.
She added that Akeredolu was working to develop Ondo State, taking it to the next level.
Mrs. Akeredolu urged women to think of they could do to benefit from the industrial hub, considering that the various companies would need farm produces for their operations.
She asked FOWOSO team to inform others what they had seen and observed,saying they had seen reality and not paid advertisement or social media events.
The First Lady, therefore, lauded Mr Ajipe, for keying into the state governor’s vision and bringing it into manifestation.