[size=14pt]Mimiko Unveils Shoprite in Ondo
[/size]

Declaring the Mall open yesterday, Governor Olusegun Mimiko said it would add value to the commercial and economic activities of the state.

He added that when the International Event Centre, The Dome, located along the same road as the Shoprite Mall is completed, Ondo State would become the Tourist destination and commercial hub for business activities in Nigeria.

Mimiko, who was accompanied to the elaborate opening ceremony by his wife, Olukemi, his Deputy, Alhaji Abdulazeez Oluboyo and his wife, Fatimat, Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, members of the House and members of the State Executive Council, expressed
satisfaction with the project.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Top Services Nigeria Limited, developer of the mall , Chief Tokunbo Omisore said his company not only met the target of the project but exceeded it with the opening of Shoprite in the 14th month of its ground
breaking.

He said 2,700 square metres of space in the shopping mall would be occupied by local retailers and commended Governor Mimiko for his vision and vigor in making Ondo State great in Nigeria.

“Though Governor Olusegun Mimiko is a medical doctor, to me, he is a city changer. I thank the Governor for not only providing the enabling environment which is very important to the developers but also fast tracking all that was necessary to make the project come to reality on time ”

He said the Akure Mall will provide job opportunities directly and indirectly to over 1, 000 residents of Akure adding that the chain store will partner with the management of the Ondo State Semi Mechanized Abattoir to ensure that the over 2,000 cows planned
to be slaughtered daily will be consumed.

The State Coordinator of Public, Private, Partnership, Prince Adenekan Olateru-Olagbegi who said the project was a dream come true noted that the mall can compete favorably with its counterparts across the globe.

http://www.ondoevents.com/photonews-ondo-state-first-family-shopping-at-akure-mall-during-shoprite-opening-today/

[img]http://1.bp..com/-Dg8SeSrNnLY/Vdxy5Eeh3RI/AAAAAAAALZ4/hiJYMGLVjfw/s1600/shoprite%2Bstore.PNG[/img]

I'm conflicted.....

I owuld have prefered a Yoruba owned company to compete with Shoprite.

[size=14pt]Odu’a Investment Company Limited Earns N4.29bn, Pays N150m Dividend[/size]


Odu’a Investment Company Limited, recorded a revenue of N4.29 billion in 2014. Disclosing this at its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, in Ibadan, the Chairman, Chief Isaac Akintade, said the five percent slide compared with 2013 earnings of N4.29bn notwithstanding, the conglomerate’s performance was thrilling despite the country’s hostile business environment.
According to the Chairman, Chief Isaac Akintade, the company’s profit before tax in the year under review, N759million, represents a 53 per cent increase over the 2013 figure of N95m. Similarly, its Earning Per Share (EPS) also rose by 98 per cent from N0.72 in 2013 to N1.43 in the year under review. Given the stride recorded by the conglomerate over the last one year, the board approved a dividend of N150 million, representing N26.1kobo per share, to the shareholders.
This would be the first time in the last six years that the company would be paying dividends to the owner states of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun. While giving a breakdown of the financials of the conglomerate and the performances of the subsidiaries at the meeting attended by all the directors as well as the Secretary to the State Government from each of the owner states, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr. Adewale Raji, said, “the payment of dividend is a commitment that we vow to maintain considering that we have not paid dividend in the past six years”.
Speaking on the performance of the holding company, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Adewale Raji said, “the revenue rose six per cent from N1.90bn to N2.02bn and Profit Before Tax increased 63 per cent to N615m compared to N378m for year 2013″. He added that the EPS for the holding company increased 57 per cent to N0.94 from N0.60 while other financial ratios demonstrated improved performance fundamentals.
Raji reported that the property development projects being undertaken by the conglomerate were reviewed and the best available options were selected for each. On the hospitality business, the GMD said “the business continued to be challenged by obsolete facilities and staff competition”. He added that various options aimed at repositioning the hotels for maximum returns and enhanced profitability were being explored.
On the future outlook of the conglomerate, he said the management had rolled out a five-year strategic plan “that posits to grow the Group’s revenue by 340 per cent from N4.5bn to N20bn between 2015 and 2019 with a baseline of 15 per cent Profit Before Tax.

[size=14pt]50 Years After: Cocoa House Still Yields Dividend
[/size]

Before the oil boom of the 1970s, the major source of revenue was agricultural produce, especially cash crops such as cocoa and rubber, among others. This brought lots of fortunes to the then Western Region of the country and the country as a whole. A living testimony of this is the Cocoa House, built 50 years ago from the proceeds from cocoa in the day of the late Yoruba patriarch, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was the Premier of Western Region from 1952 to 1959.
The 24-floor building, standing majestically in the city of Ibadan, was officially commissioned on July 30, 1965, by the Premier, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, making it the first tallest building in Africa, and still one of the tallest in West Africa.
The Cocoa House, currently being managed by Wemabod Properties, a subsidiary of the Odua Investment Group, was primarily conceived by the Western Region for the teeming farmers in the region, hence its original name “Ile Awon Agbe”, that is “the House of Farmers”. It was to serve as an incentive and common wealth of the Yoruba people who were predominantly cocoa farmers, thus showing them that their resources were being justifiably invested by the government. It was also to further underscore the fact that cocoa produce was not only profitable but could also serve as a revenue generating investment.
At inception, Cocoa House served as the corporate headquarters for several investments of the then Western Regional Government which are today operating under a common conglomerate known as Odu’a Investment Company Limited. These include Wemabod Estates Limited, Cocoa Industries Limited, Askar Paints Limited, Odu’a Printing Press Limited, Epe Plywood Limited, Lagos Airport Hotel, Nigerite, among others.
On January 9, 1985, the 345 feet tall building was gutted by fire. This was obviously a setback for the fast growing conglomerate. It took the Odu’a states of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Osun, seven years to rehabilitate the edifice and restore it to its present position. And by August 3, 1992, the rehabilitated Cocoa House was jointly commissioned by the ruling Odu’a state governors-Chief Kolapo Ishola of Oyo, Chief Bamidele Olumilua of Ondo, Chief Olusegun Osoba of Ogun and Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke of Osun. With the creation of Osun state, the ownership of Cocoa House increased to five states.
The Cocoa House Complex, with a total land area of over 1.7 hectares, is 100 per cent owned and managed by the Odua Investment Company Limited, incorporated in 1976 to take over business interest of the former Western Region of Nigeria, comprising of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states.
To further preserve and promote history, culture, heritage and ingenuity of the Yoruba people, the Odu’a Investment Company, under the leadership of the immediate past Group Managing Director, Mr Adebayo Jimoh, commissioned the Odu’a Museum and Hall of Fame on the pent house of the historic building.
Jimoh explained that the museum was put in place to showcase objects of historical or artistic values that relate to the Yoruba nation. The exhibition of Yoruba artifacts in the museum presents aspects of socio-cultural life of the Yoruba people, and will no doubt serve as an eye opener to researchers, visitors, school children and tourists who are interested in Yoruba cultural values.
Speaking during the inauguration of the complex, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, said the museum showcased the beginning of Yoruba technology and the ingenuity of our forbears, calling on all to donate materials to enrich the arts, crafts and antiquities content of the museum.
25 years after the rehabilitation of the Yoruba pride, Cocoa House stands tall with modern amenities and with 70 per cent occupancy rate, according to the present Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Odu’a Group, Mr Adewale Raji, who explained that the building has over 78 per cent of corporate tenants, the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Odu’a Investment Corporate Office and Tower Aluminium, among others.
Mr Raji noted that the building, constructed to fulfill the dreams of Yoruba patriarch, is meant to be an inspiration for higher attainment, but unfortunately, he said, “we have no such additional edifice we can point to as succeeding generation.
To further bring value to this great building, Mr Raji said, “We need to enhance its value to be the first choice in Ibadan for office accommodation, business, leisure and entertainment. This we are committed to engender, along with collaborating with Oyo State government to lift up the central business district for business and entertainment. Odu’a group is poised for a better future to transform over the next five years to a successful business conglomerate that every Yoruba person will be proud of based on its mantra of growth, profitability and sustainability.”
To celebrate 50 years of existence of this monumental building, plans are underway. According to the Corporate Affairs Manager of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Victor Ayetoro, Cocoa House’s 50-year anniversary is a landmark celebration which would make impact and leave sweet memories in the hearts of the people.

CabbieAC:




Yeah we can come up with ideas but how do we put it into effect?Just typing on Nairaland is obviously not the way to go.We need to be more direct and i have no idea how we can go about that

Kabiyesi,
The owner of this forum himself is Yoruba. Nairaland is a first test ground to validate some of the concerns we already aired.

Nairaland has an income stream made possible because of its representation and availability. If we imagine Nairaland becoming ethnocentric to Yoruba cause, the member base will shrink and it will loose corporate sponsorship. There is no incentive for Seun to transform his operation from National centric to a Yoruba forum, not without subsidies from Western stakeholders who recognize and uphold such transformatiin as necessary acts of patriotism and move to replace lost income.

This same scenario is faced by many Yorubas whose business operations have gone national and beyond Yoruba territory.

The division of Nigeria will have to be stepped through incremental divestiture at many layers of political, economic, social and even brand co ownership. This is why we must continue to support and give backing to those at the forefront spearheading the fight for return to regional government and self rule.

CabbieAC:

That's one area Yoruba businessmen need to look into, Retail. Yudala is probably the only competitor even though they're quite new and less popular. Watch out for aareonakakanfo

Lol I am...... I wish aareonakakanfo the very best

[size=14pt]Odu’a Launches Two Companies For Manufacturing, and Agro-allied businesses[/size]


Foremost Yoruba business concern, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, is keying into President Muhammadu Buhari’s diversification efforts from monolithic oil economy‎ to agro-allied based enterprises in the face of dwindling effects of global crude oil pricing.
The 8th Group Managing Director of Odu’a, Mr. Adewale Raji, who assumed duty a year ago, while rolling out his achievements in the last 388 days, said ‎the company was working towards stimulating growth and enhanced profitability in its existing subsidiaries in real estate, hospitality and insurance brokerage.
Mr. Raji, who anchored his management and leadership team spirit on Growth, Profitability and Sustainability that the present generation and those yet unborn could treasure, said his five years “ambitious plan” of growing company’s revenue by 250 per cent had started yielding positive results due to the cooperation of the board of directors, management, staff and owner states of Odu’a.
He announced the successful completion of the Ire Clay and Burnt Bricks project in Ekiti State.
He said: “I am delighted to share with you the exciting news of the rolling out of the first set of fired bricks on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 after about 10 years of the abandonment of the factory.
“It is indeed a big relief that after many years of toiling and perseverance, we were finally able to see finished blocks roll out from the factory.
“Coming with Ire clay and burnt bricks is a good match in Westlink TodoConstruccion joint venture recently consummated with a Spanish partner.
Westlink TodoConstruccion Limited markets highly discernible porcelain and ceramic finishes for floors and walls as well as bathroom, living room and kitchen fixtures.
Mr. Raji said this is one company that promises to genuinely radicalize the interior finishing stage of building construction in Nigeria.
He hinted also that Odu’a is taking a cue from the vacuum of industrial storage for massive agricultural produce by focusing on the agriculture value chain through collaboration with large commercial farming operators to put its existing land bank, estimated to be over 50,000 hectares across the owner states, into optimal farming and processing enterprises.
Not done, the Odu’a GMD said: “The company has also commenced search for credible local and foreign technical investors as partners in its targets sectors of the Nigerian economy especially hospitality, agribusiness, real estate, manufacturing, financial services and other blue ocean opportunities.
“We are mindful of the need for us to attract affordable and long-term capital to fund our initiatives. It is for this reason that we are committed to exploring available options to secure low-cost capital as well as identify and invest in high-growth businesses in target sectors of the Nigerian economy.”


http://oduainvestment.com.ng/odua-launches-two-companies-for-manufacturing-and-agro-allied-businesses/

In an effort to promote entrepreneurship among our youths, the ODU’A Commercial Farmers’ Academy has been established to play a constructive role by empowering the youth with functional skills and appropriate knowledge required in commercial farming. This project is designed to enable new and emerging farmers establish themselves in viable farming business.

http://oduainvestment.com.ng/odua-commercial-farmers-academy/

CabbieAC:

I'm really happy for those guys at Odua investment comapny.I think they're also into retail too, i need to confirm though

They're really trying.

I think it's time to start making noise about our businesses because when Oyo/Ogun state blow up, you don't want lizards and leeches to claim your success.

BRB

[size=14pt]Odu’a Printing & Publishing Company Limited
[/size]

Odu’a Printing & Publishing Company Limited engages in book production, security printing, office stationary, magazines, journals, annual reports, seasonal greeting cards, calenders, promotional posters, flyers and plastic ID cards.

List of clientele includes: West African Examination Council (WAEC), University of Ibadan, Odu’a Group of Companies and Subsidiaries.

[img]http://oduainvestment.com.ng/wp-content/themes/duotive-fortune146/includes/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/modern-printing-press1.jpg&h=300&w=650&a=c&zc=1&q=100[/img]

[size=14pt]Odu’a Shopping Complex
[/size]

This project was built to provide a shopping complex alond Idi-ape axis. It consists of 48 shops of varying dimensions. The construction is of sandcrete block walls, rendered and painted. The roof is of Nigerite crete tiles roofing sheet, the doors are of steel roller shutter with an exterior glazed door/window. The internal floors are finished with ceramic tiles while external flooring is rendered smooth. The finishing generally is of high quality standard.
Facilities and services include the following:

Adequate car parking lots
Generator and gate houses
Borehole and water supply
Concrete paved walkways.
Proper waste disposal system
Combination of block wall fence and see-through metal railings at the approach elevation.

IlekeHD:
[img]httpss://www.ondostate.gov.ng/new/amboss/Akure%20agog%20as%20Mimiko%20unveil%20new%20Shoprite%20Outlet.pixdocx.jpg[/img][img]httpss://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/2662/1e7047b315694d538b59efb4fa22b3b9.jpg[/img][img]https://1.bp..com/-Dg8SeSrNnLY/Vdxy5Eeh3RI/AAAAAAAALZ4/hiJYMGLVjfw/s1600/shoprite%2Bstore.PNG[/img]

you are bent on this, I see

[size=14pt]The New Orange Court
[/size]

ODU’A is currently redeveloping its properties in the Government Reservation Areas of Iyaganku, Jericho, Onireke and Agodi, Ibadan. It started with Qtr 833, Iyaganku GRA where six blocks of two residential apartments each have been developed. Other sites will soon be redeveloped in order to maximise their use.

[size=14pt]Almond Court, Agodi GRA, Ibadan
[/size]

CabbieAC:



Mayor I agree with this statement but is it enough? do the validations we get here amount to anything? that's my concern

Lmao!
At a point in time we will need to plug these discussions back into the grassroot. There is a chapter of OPC, Afenifere, Agbekoya, Yoruba Academy in every member city and town of the Yoruba Commonwealth. OPC and Afenifere Renewal Group have chapters in any city in the world that Yoruba number 1,000 + in population. You are not supposed to know who they are. The discretion is instructive in that discovery must be intiated by the seeker. If you are not already a member, find a local chapter and join and bring these inputs to add to those already under formulation.

Our activities and offers in here is all it is.....nothing will happen here, but a lot can happen on the ground at our grassroot level and in a capacity where, unlike in Nairaland, root and indigenity is verified, vetted and stamped to filter out saboteurs.

Lakeside Housing Estate Ibadan Oyao state, Nigeria

[size=14pt]Odu'a HERITAGE SHOPPING MALL
[/size]

Heritage Mall is an ultra-modern shopping mall that is being modeled to meet international standard. The project is at its finishing stage. Heritage mall consists of a total let abel space 6820sqm. It presently has Cash & Carry has anchor tenants. Lifemate and Mr. Price are also major tenants.

ODU’A is currently partnering with other investors in the Oil and Gas sector. However, ODU’A is seeking technical investors in order to be more active in the upstream sector through bidding for oil wells. At present, in the downstream sector, ODU’A is actively involved in petroleum products marketing through Eternal Oil Plc where ODU’A is one of the investors.

In order to boost the HealthCare sector and with improvement in the profitability of pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria, through the activities of National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) with the banning of fake drugs, ODU’A, in collaboration with either local or foreign investor, intends to set up an integrated pharmaceutical company. To this end, ODU’A is seeking technical / equity investor in this area.


http://oduainvestment.com.ng/projects/#!prettyPhoto



This company is def proactive.

Agodi Ibadan

Is this ready what Ondo state is passing off as development?

Shame on Mimiko

This is Las Vegas.........Nevada, USA


Yorubaland can be this great too. It takes a particular mindset. Do not become complacent because of the pixs I'm posting.

[size=14pt]Nigeria’s Nollywood: seeking worldwide appeal
[/size]
_{Nigerian actress Hilda Dokubo (second from left) and Nigerian actor Wole Ojo (left) talk with the chief operator on the shooting of the movie 'The CEO'.}



LAGOS, Oct 26 — The camera rolls from left to right on a dolly as the actors, all African, go through their lines, a sound operator holding a boom steady over their heads under bright studio lights.

It could be a scene from any film set but Kunle Afolayan hopes “The CEO” could drive change in Nigeria’s hugely popular and prolific movie industry, Nollywood.

“’CEO’ represents Africa as a continent,” said the 41-year-old during a break from filming at a luxury resort outside the financial capital, Lagos.

“By virtue of the kind of story, the actors, the team and every element of the film to a large extent, embraces who we are as Africans,” he told AFP.

The film’s plot is about a telecoms firm looking to replace its boss. Five members of the company’s management are dispatched across Africa to find the best candidate.

Cast members include Benin’s Grammy award-winning singer Angelique Kidjo, as well as actors from South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast and Morocco.

“It’s a fairly great mix and I think it’s a mix that’s like Kunle himself,” said Moroccan television and film actress Fatym Layachi.

“(He’s) a totally Nigerian director in the sense he’s proud of being Nigerian and proud of his culture... and at the same time he’s part of something completely universal.”

Corporate backing

With a budget of more than US$1 million (RM4.253 million), “The CEO” is a far cry from the shoestring productions that characterise the bulk of Nollywood’s output.

Some cost as little as US$25,000 to make—a fraction of the US$250 million average in Hollywood—and can be turned around within a month from filming to sale.

Afolayan has secured financial backing from Air France in a first for the French carrier, which is banking on his reputation to drive up its brand in Nigeria.

The company has provided tickets for shooting to take place in Kenya, South Africa and even at Paris’ main airport, Charles De Gaulle.

Better financing, it is hoped, will change Nollywood’s image of poorly made films with wobbly cameras, poor sound and often rudimentary editing.

His ambition fits into a wider context of a greater role for Nollywood in Nigeria’s economy and recognition of its value for the country.

In April last year, Nollywood was included in Nigeria’s economic data for the first time—a sign of its growing power and influence.

The film industry was estimated to be worth 859.9 billion naira (RM18.288 billion) or 1.2 per cent of GDP.

With an average of 2,000 films produced every year, Nollywood, which developed out of the digital boom of the 1990s, is one of the biggest cinema industries in the world.

That puts it in the same bracket as movie-mad India, although revenues—thought to be about US$590 million a year—are considerably less.

Production values

In 2013, the United Nations estimated that Nollywood, which releases about 50 films a week, employed some one million people and could create one million more jobs if properly run.

Many of the movies tackle social and cultural problems—corruption, drugs, love triangles—and rely heavily on melodrama.

Most are sold as DVDs at the roadside, either at market stalls, from wheelbarrows or by hawkers at traffic lights.

Online distribution has started through Internet platforms such as iROKOtv and via cable and satellite television, expanding their audience and appeal across Africa.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari earlier this year ordered a crackdown on bootleg copies, to regularise sales and give actors and producers a fairer deal of revenues.

For Afolayan, better quality films, as producers and directors hone their skills, and with actors from across Africa, will boost interest on the continent and beyond.

The filmmaker has already shown his films at a Nollywood festival in Paris, which has become an annual fixture since 2013.

“Some people are very comfortable in making low quality products because for them it is only a means of livelihood, for them they only make money,” he said.

“For me film is not about earning a living, film is life for me. I breathe film, I sleep film.” — AFP-Relaxnews

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/showbiz/article/nigerias-nollywood-seeking-worldwide-appeal#sthash.Jix788rL.dpuf