The State of Ogun will work with the UK government’s Manufacturing Africa program—an initiative of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in the British High Commission—and Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd. to develop a thriving manufacturing sector in the State through the State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (Oguninvest).

In order to do this, a media engagement will be held with the goal of presenting this crucial collaboration to grow the manufacturing industry and increasing investor trust in Ogun State as a preeminent industrial hub in the West Africa corridor.

These were disclosed in a statement released on Tuesday by Ms. Sola Arobieke, Special Adviser/DDG of OgunInvest. She also added that FCDO is dedicated to advancing manufacturing capabilities and promoting sustainable practices, and that the Manufacturing Africa Programme is vital in fostering industrial development and innovation throughout Africa.

She continued by saying that the planned partnership would make use of the FCDO’s proficiency in market research and corporate finance assistance to promote a strong manufacturing environment in Ogun State and throughout Nigeria.

She claims that the Manufacturing Africa Program’s participation in this project demonstrates its commitment to developing Africa’s industrial sector, generating excellent employment opportunities, and advancing technological innovation.

The company, Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd., is specialised in the safe and effective recycling of electronic waste. They use cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices to manage e-waste responsibly. She also described the company as a pioneering leader in the field of electronic waste management, noting that their creative approach not only supports environmental conservation but also promotes best practices in electronic waste management throughout Nigeria.

In 2016, Hinckley Recycling became the first E-Waste recycler in Nigeria to receive official approval. With a ground-breaking proposal to build the first lithium-ion and lead acid battery recycling and treatment factory in Africa, the company is currently expanding its activities to Ogun State. Using patented recycling technology, this $5 million investment in the first year will generate 100 direct jobs. Manufacturing Africa is providing corporate finance support and a market research for the project.

His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun CON is the Chairman of Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OgunInvest), which we run on our own. The organization’s goal is to make Ogun State the most sought-after location for investments in the area and the centre of Nigeria’s logistics and industry. Its goal is to establish an atmosphere that is conducive to investment, drawing and holding onto both foreign and domestic capital to support economic expansion.

OgunInvest is committed to boosting Ogun State’s economic growth and positioning it as the top investment destination in Nigeria, in keeping with our mission to draw in and assist new investments. The organisation offers investors all-inclusive support services and a one-stop shop for investment facilitation. In order to ensure effective investment operations, this involves helping with preliminary enquiries, giving comprehensive information on investment opportunities, aiding investors with regulatory requirements, and providing aftercare services, according to the statement.

Arobieke consequently stated the following advantages of the collaboration:

1. Economic Growth and Job Creation: Through FCDO’s Manufacturing Africa project, Ogun State will gain economic growth and job creation, with the development of 90,000 jobs in Africa over a seven-year period. The first lithium-ion and lead acid battery recycling facility in Africa will be established as a direct result of the relationship with Hinckley, thereby creating 100 employment.
2. Technology and Knowledge Transfer: Ogun State’s industrial ecosystem would be strengthened by having access to battery recycling technology that is patented in the UK and was created by Solveteq and Imperial College London. By doing this, the state will become known as Africa’s technological leader in battery recycling.

3. Protection of the Environment and Public Health: Ogun State will lessen pollution of the environment and protect public health by encouraging sustainable e-waste recycling. This is especially important in minimising lead poisoning and child labour associated with hazardous recycling methods.
4. Building Investor Confidence: By showcasing Ogun State as an investor-friendly area, the cooperation bolsters Ogun State’s standing as the top location for industrial investments in Nigeria, among many other benefits.

The joint press conference, meanwhile, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 4 p.m. at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, State Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Among those scheduled to speak are Mr. Richard Montgomery CMG, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, Ogun State’s Chief Economic Adviser, and the UK Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).