Director General and Global Liaison of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, visited the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) on Thursday, where he met with the zone’s chairman, Dr. Hafsat Oduwole-Balewa, to assess its operations and explore investment collaboration under the Nigeria-China framework.
Welcoming Tegbe, Dr. Oduwole-Balewa noted that the zone had seen significant growth in the number of operating industries. “When I assumed leadership, we had fewer than 40 companies. Today, there are 173 enterprises operating within the zone,” she said.
Dr. Oduwole-Balewa called for deeper collaboration with the NCSP to support Nigeria’s industrialisation efforts. “I believe through your office, we can attract high-value investments, enhancing technology transfer and expanding export quality and capacity in alignment with Nigeria’s broader economic diversification goals,” she said. She added that the zone was focused on drawing investors in advanced manufacturing and green technologies, and developing talent programmes for young Nigerians.
Tegbe, who toured the zone’s facilities, described the OGFTZ as a potential model for other parts of the country. “This is one FTZ that has been extremely successful in attracting Chinese investors. Our plan is to use the FTZ as a showcase and a masterpiece to attract more investors into Nigeria and also to ensure our Nigerian investors also effectively collaborate with Chinese investors in re-industrialising Nigeria,” he said.
According to Tegbe, the zone currently hosts 173 companies, directly employing over 10,000 Nigerians and indirectly supporting another 25,000 jobs. He said the zone also generates over 300 megawatts of electricity for its operations.
The Administrative Manager for the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) in the zone, Mr. Steven Makanjuola, credited Dr. Oduwole-Balewa’s leadership with drawing in investment and institutional support.
Other attendees at the event included the Deputy General Manager of China-Africa Investment FZC, Mr. Kevin Liu, alongside immigration and customs officials and representatives of Chinese firms operating in the zone.
