By Jayamma Abanobi ()

My visit to Ajaokuta coincided concurrently with my quest to travel; and when the chance came, I ensured I utilised it fully. I am a final year Architecture student of the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus and visiting the West African Ceramics LTD (Royal Tiles) proved to be a brilliant delight to me. It all started this way…

Lalasticlala
Mynd44

Tour By Factboyz

https:///2019/10/factboyz-ceo-visits-royal-tiles-ajaokuta-kogi-state-confirms-hope-for-nigeria-pics.html

The West African Cermaics LTD (Royal Tiles) organize scholarships for Architecture students in 7 Federal universities, with full focus solely on the Masters of Architecture level. So the scholarship only applies for Masters in Architecture.

The benefits the company assured my school UNN, are of mutual benefit and are all signed in a memorandum of understanding. With inclusions to the fact that the scholarship applies to the school.. (So you continue your Masters program with the school) The benefits of the scholarship include full funding for Tuition and Accommodation.

Hence, our journey to Ajaokuta began, as we needed to take the aptitude test that will qualify us for the scholarship.

Lalasticlala
Mynd44

The benefits the company assured my school UNN, are of mutual benefit and are all signed in a memorandum of understanding. With inclusions to the fact that the scholarship applies to the school.. (So you continue your Masters program with the school) The benefits of the scholarship include full funding for Tuition and Accommodation.

Hence, our journey to Ajaokuta began, as we needed to take the aptitude test that will qualify us for the scholarship.

We left Enugu around 8.00 am and arrived West African Ceramics LTD (Royal Tiles) Ajaokuta, Kogi State by some minutes past 1.

When we alighted I couldn’t help but notice how heavily industrialized the place is. I was impressed when I saw hundreds of workers working in good conditions and meeting Sustainable goals in universal environmental standards.. I immediately started to see that Nigeria will definitely be great one day.

We were accompanied by Dr. Okey Nduka. one of our senior lecturers.

We were received by the staff of the company including Mr Yahaya Ibrahim Lasiu the Health Safety Expert and Mr Mohammed the Personnel Manager and surprisingly staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) were on ground to record it all.

We arrived on Wednesday, October the 23rd and we were 32 students in all.

Before I forget, it was only open for Final year students of Architecture in Federal Universities.

We ate and we were all happy and glad.. After eating, we proceeded to the training center where we were welcomed my the Marketing Manager, an Indian man who I couldn’t pick his name. He addressed us and welcomed us officially.

He added that we would tour the industry ASAP and then write an aptitude test the next day (Thursday) based on what we learnt. After all the lecture, we proceeded to the buses where we began the tour of the company.

The company is fully into the production of Wall Tiles, Floor Tiles and Roofing Tiles.. Vitrified and Porcelain Tiles, Marble Series, Granite Series Etc. Honestly, I had lost hope for this country, but after this you, my brain reset to loving this country with full hopes that things will become better. I won’t go into details as to how the tiles were made, but I can say they are of high quality.

One thing I must not fail to mention is that 97% of the materials used in the production process are locally sourced. I specifically learnt that they get Red Clay from Abia state because of its elasticity to produce red tiles and Kaolin from Bauchi state.

After about an hour of touring the industry, taking notes and asking questions we got back to the training center where we proceeded to the bus that will convey us all the hotel in Lokoja, the state capital; which about an Hour and 15 minutes from Ajaokuta. (Note these were all free!)

After we arrived the hotel, we were paired two two (Definitely of the same sex) after refreshing we ate and retired for the day, with many of us reading the jottings we did during the tour in preparation for the aptitude test to be written the next day.

Thursday, October 24th 2019

We had breakfast (free) at the hotel and got into bus as we headed to Ajaokuta the company’s headquarters. We wrote the test which had about 15 questions that were all theory questions.

After the test, the General Manager came in to welcome us. The GM as he was called was an Indian man with a red dot on his forehead. Mr Yahaya, the Health Safety Expert introduced him as the brain behind the success of the company.

He addressed us, encouraging us to use the local minerals we have around us to develop our country Nigeria. He talked about how his company used local materials efficiently to produce the tiles. We were all inspired and we were glad he spoke to us.

Friday, October 25th 2019

We wore the Tshirts we were given and after some photographs, we began the journey back to Enugu.

In summary, I learnt

1. The production processes of Tile Making

2.That Nigeria is blessed with a lot of untapped mineral resources

3. There is indeed hope for Nigeria.

Thanks.

Jayamma Abanobi

()

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Lalasticlala
Mynd44

Thanks for the opportunity West African Cermaics LTD

An adventurer bloggers Wey no fit cover the lapses in whatever he/she covers.. Is that one a blogger

None of them wore any safety equipment. The company should have extra for visitors or ask them to bring their own.

Guestlander:
None of them wore any safety equipment. The company should have extra for visitors or ask them to bring their own.

Basically, the safety was against dust and some heavy nasal scents that could be dangerous.. So we used nose masks.. We kept considerable distance from the heavy machinery

Way to go Factboyz.. Detailed Adventure

FactBoyz:
Basically, the safety was against dust and some heavy nasal scents that could be dangerous.. So we used nose masks.. We kept considerable distance from the heavy machinery

How do you determine what is a considerable distance? I saw a cutting machine, you could be blinded by a flying debris. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Show us the useless road surrounding the factory

OhBiafra:
Show us the useless road surrounding the factory

Appreciate good factory before you appreciate bad road.. Nigerians and Negative mindset

So Because You went to Ajaokuta and confirms there's hope for Nigeria.. We should start jubilating right?

You only told us all the good parts neglecting the pathetic sides.

Say the truth bros;

Did you noticed how the workers there are treated Majority of them work in the worst conditions I have ever seen. No safety boots,googles,nose mask,Helmet and ecetera.. You only mentioned " Seeing hundreds of workers working in favourable condition" You personally know thats a blantant lie. if it was true why wasnt safety equipment given to you guys ?.

Secondly, there isnt any hope indeed for Nigeria. The country don cast! You took cognizance of the roads surrounding both the two factories right ?. BN ceramics runned by the chinese and WACL by indians

The only thing clear here is that you enjoyed free meal,clothing and Accomodation.

I don't know what you intend gaining by pushing fallacy to us...live up to your name and always do the needful. (no offence)

Wow that nice, I'll like to visit a lot of places in Naija

Na wah

Generalwoodz:
So Because You went to Ajaokuta and confirms there's hope for Nigeria.. We should start jubilating right?

You only told us all the good parts neglecting the pathetic sides.

Say the truth bros;

Did you noticed how the workers there are treated Majority of them work in the worst conditions I have ever seen. No safety boots,googles,nose mask,Helmet and ecetera.. You only mentioned " Seeing hundreds of workers working in favourable condition" You personally know thats a blantant lie. if it was true why wasnt safety equipment given to you guys ?.

Secondly, there isnt any hope indeed for Nigeria. The country don cast! You took cognizance of the roads surrounding both the two factories right ?. BN ceramics runned by the chinese and WACL by indians

The only thing clear here is that you enjoyed free meal,clothing and Accomodation.

I don't know what you intend gaining by pushing fallacy to us...live up to your name and always do the needful. (no offence)

You can still reasonably comment without the hate

Jordan97:
You can still reasonably comment without the hate

You could do well by showing me the hate..

Make I no talk wetin de my mind

Generalwoodz:
So Because You went to Ajaokuta and confirms there's hope for Nigeria.. We should start jubilating right?

You only told us all the good parts neglecting the pathetic sides.

Say the truth bros;

Did you noticed how the workers there are treated Majority of them work in the worst conditions I have ever seen. No safety boots,googles,nose mask,Helmet and ecetera.. You only mentioned " Seeing hundreds of workers working in favourable condition" You personally know thats a blantant lie. if it was true why wasnt safety equipment given to you guys ?.

Secondly, there isnt any hope indeed for Nigeria. The country don cast! You took cognizance of the roads surrounding both the two factories right ?. BN ceramics runned by the chinese and WACL by indians

The only thing clear here is that you enjoyed free meal,clothing and Accomodation.

I don't know what you intend gaining by pushing fallacy to us...live up to your name and always do the needful. (no offence)

Why don't you report the negativity you wrote up there so that the appropriate authorities would take the necessary steps. Nigeria don cast, nigeria don spoil yet we are not trying to make it better.

24kmagic:
Make I no talk wetin de my mind

hmmm