As the global community, especially Europe struggles with the challenges of the war between Russia and Ukraine, some economic experts have posited that African nations with strategic industrialisation drive are at prime advantage to actualising their dreams.
However, the provision of infrastructure remains pivotal to facilitation of the industrialisation of the continent.
In Nigeria, the private sector as well as the federal government are seemed poised to closing the infrastructural gap in every segment of the economy.
Driven by the conviction that the much-needed industrialisation must be anchored on the provision of reliable infrastructure, committed indigenous entrepreneurs have committed themselves to pioneer various spectrums of such development.
Lee Engineering Group, founded by Dr. Leemon Ikpea, is one of the engineering outfits championing the noble quest for Nigeria’s industrialisation. The unique selling point of the company is the belief that transformation only takes place by active participation. Therefore, instead of the usual stance of being merely a marketing agent for foreign products in quest for quick returns, Lee Engineering is bringing the chicken home to roost by developing a national content portfolio towards accelerated development of the nation and the African continent.
Those familiar with Lee Engineering Group are aware that the company has committed resources to the establishment of a steel products fabrication factory, in Warri, Delta State. The factory is scheduled for commissioning this year (2022). In a commendable boost for national content; some indigenous engineers have been trained to operate the facility.
Much may not be known about the man behind the strategic investment, development of the technological know-how and the skill acquisition required to sustain the initiative.
Indeed, the move towards pioneering local fabrication of industrial tools and equipment in the oil and gas industry; where the Lee Engineering Group is birthed and imprinting indelible footmarks, dates back to 2009 when Dr. Leemon Ikpea incorporated Lee international Services S.r.l Italy and appointed Dr. Dott Giuseppe Paone – a former lecturer at University of Milan (Italy) as the Area Manager, Business Development, Procurement, Project Management, Europe and Africa.
Precisely, Lee International Services S.r.L. was incorporated in March 2009 as Lee Engineering & Construction Co Ltd subsidiary, with the prime aim of providing international services, training and technology development transfer, highly skilled manpower provision, engineering designs, project management and international consultancies.
Thus, the choice of Mr. Paone, a technocrat with a passion for business management in the oil and gas industry since 2006, was a perfect fit.
Addressing journalists in Warri, during the week, Paone who was on assessment visit, said the fabrication factory will contribute enormously to the economic and industrial transformation of Nigeria.
On the economic benefits of the factory, he said, “The first impact will be on employment. The second will be on the economy itself because, instead of importing from foreign countries, Nigeria will become more independent. Those who will produce the spare parts needed for petrochemicals and refineries will be available at workshops in Nigeria, just as we have here at Lee Engineering. These parts could have been sourced somewhere else, outside of Nigeria. So you only import raw materials, then you produce the needed parts here. That increases the wealth of the nation.”
Relating the present situation to the industrial development experience of his home country, Italy, he said, “In the early 60s, Italy (after the Second World War), was destroyed.
“I read in the books and my grandfather also used to tell me that Italy became like today’s Ukraine – destroyed.
“The U.S came with funds and we started rebuilding. The development was rapid in the 60s. We started industrialisation from carbon steel, stainless steel, and petrochemicals. “Today, what I see now in Nigeria is the same. You are experiencing the Italian 60s. So you are developing so much because, from 2011, you have been the leading economy in Africa.
“Nigeria is the 5th-largest exporter of crude oil globally. It is the biggest economy in Africa. The first country In Africa in terms of development is Ghana, but the country is small. Nigeria is far bigger. So you are progressing so much, with many middle-class citizens here. “When I came here, I noticed a lot of factories. The middle class requests moderate houses, and also a lot of services.”
The Fabrication Factory Initiative
Paone said, the fabrication factory, initiated by the Chairman of Lee Engineering Group, Dr. Ikpea would complement the activities the Lee Group in the oil and gas industry.
He noted that the machines and tools used in setting up the factory were of international standard and supplied by Italian manufacturers.
Beyond the Oil and Gas Industry
Emphasising the critical role the factory will play in the nation’s quest for industrial development, Paone stated that, although the goal is to produce pressure vessels and heat exchangers for low, medium to high pressure use in the oil and gas industry, the same machine can fabricate other industrial tools and equipment using carbon or stainless steel as material.
“Talking about stainless steel, I’ll give you an example. In the food industry, we need to transport things like milk, beer, and beverages with trucks. You will notice that, behind the trucks, there are tools and caps. So we built the machines that can enable these tanks to be used for the transportation of beverages.
“We are not focusing on only oil and gas. Why do we want to do this? We know, from industry experience in Europe, that in developing countries like Nigeria, those goods are consumed by the middle class. So the demand for these goods will increase. Their needs will also increase. We want to be leaders in their supply.”
Manpower
To ensure the perfect and smooth running of the factory, he stressed that Lee Engineering is committed to training the local manpower. In this regard, over 30 engineers and technicians have been sent to Italy for training on how to operate the equipment in the fabrication factory.
Paone however regretted the impact of the global lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, stressing that the personnel trained could not deploy their skills immediately as a result. But he revealed that the Italian partners have continued to send personnel to Nigeria to run refresher courses for the trainees.
Stressing the need for retraining and plans to ensure a smooth transition, he said, “When people are trained, they start working. And, for this phase, we may organise and supervise the beginning because the startup is the most delicate for the company. The beginning will be supervised by people who have done that for decades, people who know exactly what to be avoided, what should be done, and what not to be done for safety reasons. After this supervision, the workshop will become, day by day, more independent and better in terms of production.”
Preparations for Factory Commissioning
According to Paone, the Lee Engineering Fabrication Factory is set to commence a test run in June, 2022.
On the process, he said: “Commissioning activities involve properly installing and fine-tuning machines. If there are instruments like flow meters and others, you will check that they are balanced and are working because the water condition here is different.
“At the end of the commissioning, you make a startup. It’s like buying a vehicle, you turn it on. If it goes on well, it means that all the preparatory activities for the startup were successful. For the vehicle or car, you will check to be sure that everything is in order before you start, won’t you? The startup is the moment when the key to the machine is being delivered to Lee Engineering because it is in perfect working condition. Processes may be different from machine to machine, but the aim is simply to make the machine work.”
Funding
Dr. Paone is not ignorant of the role of funds in the actualisation of a huge project like the fabrication factory. He commended Engr. Ikpea for the initiative, but noted that the government can fast track the industrialisation by facilitating access to multinational development funds for development purposes.
“We invest so much into this project as a company. Of course, at the moment, all the funding comes from Chief Leemon Ikpea, the Chairman/CEO of Lee Engineering.
“But since we are aware that there is the possibility to get funds from the U.N and related agencies or the World Bank, we are working towards that. I am booking appointments with some people to know whether they can provide funds – not in the form of loans, but with the understanding that we are contributing to the development of the Nigerian economy. That is a common thing to do.”
Nigeria in the Global Fund Sourcing
Meanwhile, there is an indication that Nigerian entrepreneurs may be finding it very difficult to tap into pools of funds offered by multilateral sources due to the absence of representatives on the board of such organisations.
For instance, a financial expert who does not want his name in print confirmed to our reporter that the country does not have representatives in most of the United Nations Development Agency.
“That, for me, isn’t a good one. It shows that the government and country are not taking advantage of the opportunities available for entrepreneurial and industrial development from such space. The implication is to resort to the use of local funds for long-term investment which is usually very costly.
Meanwhile, Paone has advocated for Nigeria to take advantage of the situation in Europe to fast track its industrial development.
According to him, the present market conditions are the best. “With the recent decline in energy supply caused by the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war in Europe, all the policies over there are currently being changed in a bid to help source gas. Europe presently has a good relationship with Nigeria, and I believe this presents a very good opportunity for Nigeria to take advantage of the shortfall. I mean right now – not next year, but now,” he said.
Interestingly, while many Nigerians are watching and waiting for the government to create a conducive environment for investment in their chosen fields of endeavor; the likes of Dr. Leemon Ikpea are brazing the trail towards making a positive impact, graduating from marketing foreign products in Nigeria to establishing factories where manufacturing and fabrication take place.
Indeed, this is a giant stride geared towards placement of Nigeria and Africa on the path of full industrialisation.
Successful launch of the factory will also provide quick access to critical spare parts and tools, create employment, raise middle and high level manpower, and move the African continent into the mainstream of economic development and relevance.
All hands must therefore be on deck in support of Dr. Ikpea’s initiative and his drive to place Nigeria in the fore of Africa industrialisation.