Lagos now co-owner of Odu’a Investment Company

The Lagos State Government has officially become a co-owner of the Western Nigeria Investment Group, the Odu’a Holdings, the Group Chairman of the company, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, stated this when he presented to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Government Odu’a Investment share certificate.

The presentation took place during a courtesy visit to the governor by the company’s board and management at Lagos House, Ikeja.

What you should know about the company: Odu'a Investment Company Limited is a conglomerate with substantial investment in Real Estate, Printing and Publishing, Equipment Leasing, Food and Beverages, and more.

OICL is a strategic investment and asset management firm founded in 1976 to hold and manage the industrial and commercial assets of companies owned by the government of the Western State of Nigeria.

Who are other owners of the company?: The Odu’a Group, which was set up by the government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the days of the Western Region, is owned by the Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States governments.

Why the company sold shares to Lagos: Ashiru, during the presentation, said the company decided to hand over the Share Certificate to Governor Sanwo-Olu to silence doubting Thomas’s who don’t believe that Lagos State is part of the Odua Group.

He said Lagos State is a bonafide member of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited, and the board members and management have been enjoying the support of the Lagos State Government.

The Company's vision: The chairman said the focus of the board and management team to engineer a turnaround for the group, even as he added that with the caliber of people managing the affairs of the company right now, is to become a world-class company.

Lagos can do more: He, however, requested for more support from the Lagos State Government, noting that Odu’a is ready to partner and work with the state government for more business opportunities in hospitality, real estate, tourism and agriculture, especially the Imota Rice Mill.

Sanwo-Olu's response: the Lagos State Government is willing to partner Odu’a Investment Company to deepen the relationship among the South-west states in agriculture, hospitality, oil and gas, tourism and other business opportunities.

He said: “We thank you very much for putting paid to doubting Thomases, who are not sure whether Lagos State has been brought in as part of Odu’a Investment. Lagos State before now has been accepted as equal partner, equal shareholder with governors of the five other states, and we are all equal stakeholders in the group.

“We thank you very much for presenting our Share Certificate to us. We have enjoyed dividends a couple of times already and it goes to show that our investment is yielding the right results. Lagos State is happy that we have made that investment and we are part of a great and bigger agenda called the Odu’a Investment.

“We are willing to partner Odu’a Investment Company on our Imota Rice Mill. The Rice Mill will be unveiled in October or November 2022, depending on the timing of our guest. It is something that we all need to celebrate. That would be the biggest single rice mill in the country, and it is a pride for all of us.

“And coming out of the mill itself, there are many other businesses that also can springboard like rice plantation, rice paddy, and all of it can be one of the areas in which we can look out for great business opportunities in Odu’a Investment Company. There are also other areas we can collaborate on like real estate opportunities, blue economy, hospitality destinations and tourism.”

Finally: The governor commended the board and management for their commitment, urging them to have a long view and make it a company that will outlive them.