By joshua 
FG delighted over SV-NED’s attraction of foreign investors to Nigeria
Ayo Ola
The federal government has expressed delight over the attraction of foreign investors by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development (SV-NED) HRH, Queen Mother, Amb. Chief Amina Temitope Labinjo-Ajayi (JP).
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, made this known after his meeting 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 a statement on Tuesday by Labinjo-Ajayi (JP).
Alake said: “We are delighted by the coming of Mr. Allen Lee Nam. We had discussion with the delegation and SV-NED management. It is not yet time to make open our discussions.”
Allen Le said that he will mobilise other foreign investors and their associates to invest multi-billion dollars in projects in Nigeria.
He harped on the private sector as the corner stone for economic development of any country.
He expressed the hope that Nigeria will be one day like Canada and Vietnam. He also said Nigerians were friendly, adding that he was impressed by the reception he received at the airport and the behaviour of the people who met.
Nam said: “The private sector would be looked at as a warrior of the country. The private sector would look at it as a warrior of the country. They’re the ones who are at the peacetime. They’re the ones who are fighting. They’re the ones who put their family back, put their time, put the risk, and then build the country.
“So, I hope that the government will look at the private sector, the businessman, the entrepreneur, as a warrior of the peacetime. Let’s build Nigeria together.
He said he was not expecting much from the government.
He said: “The government should make things easier for the private sector and for the foreign investor, so that they can mobilize money into the country, build skyscrapers, help with the mining, help with the green energy sector, electrical cars, and most importantly, the airlines, low-cost airlines, for the good of the people to mobilize around the country. And obviously, the last but not the least, is good and quality home for everyone.
He said: “This is my first time. But on how much I am planning to mobilise, I can tell you after, but it’s going to be multi-billion dollars around with my investors, my partners, and my associates.
“Hopefully, five years from now, the airport will be transformed. If you come to Vietnam right now, never mind next two years, you’ll see about five, six stars airport is being built. It’s going to be grand opening in the next two years in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is already done.”
Labinjo-Ajayi said the coming of Nam is a dream fulfilled. She stated that they are coming to invest in Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
She said: “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 Renew Hope agenda. My brother, the President, is trying everything within his best. And he’s now concentrating on 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 added: “To sum it up, let’s give credit to the President. Our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He really encouraged me. He said to me as a woman, go and make me proud. And that is why we are solidly supporting his Renewed Hope Agenda. I think Nigeria can see the silver lining now. Because we’ve been going through a lot of dark tunnels. I love Nigeria. I love our President. I love our young adults. This is Renew Hope Agenda for real.”
Chief Executive Officer, Allen Lee and Partners. Mr. Kingsley Bede Onyeocha, said the delegation came to support growth in Nigeria.
He noted that there are great potential, huge human and mineral resources in the country.
Onyeocha said: “Everything is pretty good so far. So, from the airport, 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’s a lot of positive changes here, to be very honest. I was told now there is a rail that makes for the shuttle to town.I’ve never seen that here 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. And this is Mama D. So, she’s the one who surveys the land for us.
“All we are here to see is how we can be part of the development here. So that’s just basically what we came for. I know Nigeria is a good place, hospitable, hardworking people. We just want Nigeria to grow. We are proud to be part of development that is upcoming in different sectors. So, we’ve made a lot of inquiries. We’ve contacted different sectors as well.
“But that is what we are here for. So, this is our first point of arrival. And we’ll take it from here. Nigeria is not lacking manpower. Nigeria is not lacking human resources. All we need is direction. So, we have human capacity. We just need direction.
“So, basically, we’ve seen a lot of properties that can be developed. We’ve seen things that can take place here. That is why we are here in terms of support. The infrastructure that already exists. And we want to help build it. So, as it is, it’s just to invest. So, we know the human capital is here. That’s just what it is.”