Chinese firm to invest $50m in Ogun to expand detergent production

Ogun state government says Lee Group, a Chinese firm involved in detergent production, plans to invest $50 million in the state to increase production.

Kayode Akinmade, special adviser to Dapo Abiodun, Ogun state governor on media and strategy, announced in a statement on Saturday.

According to Akinmade, the investment plan was revealed during the governor’s visit to China alongside his economic team.

Akinmade said the team had a strategic meeting with the managing director of Lee Group.

“This is yet another testament to the attractiveness of our State as the emerging industrial capital of Nigeria, and we remain committed to sustaining policies that make Ogun a preferred destination for global investors,” the statement read.

“We are equally delighted to note that Lee Group is expanding its detergent business, which proudly stands as the number one in Nigeria in terms of sales. This expansion will not only consolidate their market leadership but also create more job opportunities for our people and stimulate economic activities across the value chain.

“In addition, Lee Group is broadening its footprint in the food processing sector with the establishment of two new factories dedicated to exports to the United States and Europe.

“This bold step underscores the growing confidence of international markets in products made in Ogun State, while also positioning our State as a hub for export-driven industrialisation.”

During the visit, Abiodun also sought investment in China to expand the state’s economy through strategic partnerships and investments.

Akinmade said the team met with Inspur, one of the foremost information technology (IT) firms in China, which took the team through the history of the company’s existence and its vision for the future.

The team, according to Akinmade, found their trajectory mirrored the Ogun Tech Hub concept, reinforcing the government’s conviction that Ogun state can become a digital innovation hub in Africa with the right partnerships and support for its ICT companies.

The spokesperson said the team’s “conversations with Inspur were focused on how we can translate this meeting into meaningful collaborations that will drive knowledge exchange, create opportunities for our people, and further strengthen the foundation of our digital economy”.

Also, Akinmade said the team played host to Linshuang Zhang, the chairman of Royal Ceramic, a foremost player in Nigeria’s ceramic manufacturing industry, with their state-of-the-art factory situated in Sagamu, Ogun state.

Her presence, according to Akinmade, was not only a mark of respect but also a testament to the growing confidence of industrial giants in the state’s administration’s vision for a prosperous Ogun state.

The spokesperson said Zhang commended the governor for transforming Ogun into a business-friendly environment through infrastructure development, strengthened security, and enabling policies.

Furthermore, Abiodun reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sustaining the trajectory of growth by continuing to create the right atmosphere for investment, innovation, and industrial expansion.

“It gives us great pride that investors such as Royal Ceramic recognize and celebrate these achievements, further validating our resolve to keep Ogun State at the forefront of Nigeria’s industrial revolution,” the governor said.

ABIODUN, SHANDONG PROVINCE GOVERNOR MEET TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP

Also, Akinmade said Abiodun had an engagement with Zhou Naixiang, governor of Shandong Province, as part of efforts to rekindle and strengthen a Shandong–Ogun state economic and trade partnership under the broader Nigeria–China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (NCSP).

The spokesperson said the engagement was in line with the earlier agreement between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Xi Jinping at the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, in September 2024.

Commenting on the engagement, the governor said it is a reflection of “our unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Initiative of our President exemplified by expanding the frontiers of investment and cooperation for the benefit of our people”.

“During our discussions, we are exploring opportunities in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, and human capital development,” Abiodun said.

The statement also said Abiodun met with Wang Xinsheng, mayor of Rizhao, earlier on Saturday, to deepen economic and cultural ties between Ogun and the Chinese coastal city.

At the meeting, Abiodun emphasised the centrality of the Olokola deep sea port project to the future of Ogun, noting that its development would not only position the state as Nigeria’s leading industrial and maritime hub, but also serve as a gateway for enhanced trade between Africa and Asia.

He said the discussions with Rizhao – a city renowned for its thriving port economy – were aimed at fostering collaboration that will bring world-class technical expertise and investment into the project.

Abiodun highlighted Ogun’s mineral wealth and potential for industrial partnerships, while also emphasising the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges with Rizhao to boost bilateral relations.

The meeting with the mayor, the governor noted, is another milestone in Ogun’s international investment drive, reinforcing the state’s attractiveness as “a preferred destination for global partnerships”.