Kwara State has attracted at least two foreign direct investments valued at about $35 million, reinforcing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s push for industrialisation and economic growth in the state. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Wednesday, said the investments are being driven by ER-KANG Company Limited, a Chinese firm operating in the state.
Team lead of the company, Sun Qing Rong, disclosed that the firm has completed and officially flagged off a $20 million lithium processing factory in Kwara, in line with the state government’s policy of promoting value addition and local manufacturing. He said the factory currently employs more than 300 workers, mostly indigenes of Kwara State, and processes lithium into finished materials rather than exporting it in raw form without value addition. Rong added that the company is also setting up a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in the state valued at over $15 million and will partner with the Kwara State Government on the proposed industrial park.
“This is one of the fruits of the meeting that we held with Your Excellency in Beijing about two years ago. Today, we have completed the lithium plant, and it is up and running. This year, we are starting the pharmaceutical company with the support of Your Excellency,” he said. According to him, the pharmaceutical project will be executed in two phases, covering large infusion and small-volume injection workshops, aimed at addressing shortages in the Nigerian pharmaceutical market. He noted that preparatory work for the project had been largely completed.
Rong commended Governor AbdulRazaq for providing what he described as an “outstanding investment environment” for foreign investors, adding that the company places strong emphasis on social responsibility within its host communities. In his response, Governor AbdulRazaq expressed satisfaction with the scale and impact of the investments, noting that they would create jobs, promote technology transfer, and stimulate the local economy. “We are willing to support you and other investors to invest more in our state,” the governor said.
Other members of the ER-KANG delegation at the meeting included the company’s lawyer, Ibrahim Atanda; Project Architect, Sayi Yekeen; Quality Control Supervisor, Shuai Hai Tao; Factory Manager, Cao Zheng Hai; Pharmaceutical Manager, Xie Chuan Li; and Administrative Manager, Mi Guang Hua. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Jiddah, was also present at the meeting.
