The Federal Government has expressed delight over the attraction of foreign investors by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development, Chief Temitope Labinjo-Ajayi.
A statement by the company quoted the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, as stating this after he met with a delegation led by the Chairman, Allen Le & Partners, International Investment Consulting Joint Stock Company, Hanoi City, Vietnam, Mr Allen Le Nam, and management of SV-NED.
According to the statement signed by Labinjo-Ajayi on Tuesday, Alake said, “We are delighted by the coming of Mr Allen Lee Nam. We had discussions with the delegation and SV-NED management. It is not yet time to open our discussions.”
Le Nam had promised to mobilise other foreign investors and their associates to invest multi-billion dollars in projects in Nigeria.
He was said to have described the private sector as the cornerstone of a country’s economic development.
The Vietnam investor expressed the hope that Nigeria will one day be like Canada and Vietnam.
He also said Nigerians were friendly, adding that he was impressed by the reception at the airport and the behaviour of the people he met.
He noted, “The private sector would be looked at as a warrior of the country. They’re the ones who are at peacetime. They’re the ones who are fighting. They’re the ones who put their family back, put their time in, put the risk in, and then built the country.
“So, I hope that the government will look at the private sector, the businessman, the entrepreneur, as a warrior in peacetime. Let’s build Nigeria together.”
While saying he was not expecting much from the government, Le Nam stated that the government should make things easier for the private sector and for the foreign investors so that they can mobilise money into the country, build skyscrapers, help with the mining, help with the green energy sector, help with electric cars, and most importantly, help low-cost airlines for the good of the people to mobilise around the country and a good home for everyone.
“I am planning to mobilise multi-billion dollars with my investors, my partners, and my associates.”
Labinjo-Ajayi said the coming of Le Nam is a dream fulfilled, adding that investors are to capitalise in Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“Our Almighty God may not be there when we need Him. But he will always be there on time. This is the future. The foreign investors are coming to invest heavily under the Renewed Hope agenda. My brother, the president, is trying everything to do his best. And he’s now concentrating on the private sector. I belong to the private sector. We can’t rely only on the government. We have to get the private sector to bring us up,” she noted.
The Chief Executive Officer of Allen Lee and Partners, Mr Kingsley Onyeocha, said the delegation came to support growth in Nigeria.
Onyeocha noted that there is great potential, including huge human and mineral resources in the country.
“Everything is pretty good so far. From the airport, from what I have seen, the reception from the people has been amazing. There are a lot of changes, actually, from the last time I was here.
“So, there are a lot of positive changes here, to be very honest. I was told that now there is a rail that makes for the shuttle to town. I’ve never seen that here (in Lagos) before. But other than that, everything is pretty good. We’ve met amazing people. And we are glad we are here. I’m here with my partner, Mr Allen.
“All we are here to see is how we can be part of the development here. I know Nigeria is a good place, with hospitable and hard-working people. We just want Nigeria to grow. We are proud to be part of the development that is upcoming in different sectors,” he added.
