…targets 10,000 employment opportunity
By Ediri Ejoh

Extra –Vega, a leading multinational architectural fabrication and design company in Milan, Italy, said it has concluded plans to lead a team of investors from Europe that are willing to partner with local investors in real estate and infrastructure development in the country.

The move is aimed at providing affordable housing for the teaming population of Nigerians who are unable to meet some of their housing needs. The team of investors who are expected to come into the country in August will be offering support in the areas of finance and technical assistance to local real estate developers who have genuine projects that need assistance.

Speaking to Vanguard on the development, the Official Representative, Extra-Vega, Milano S.R.L., to Nigeria and Business Broker, Mr. Okechukwu Francis Ameachi, stated that the company in its bid to extend their business network to Africa, considered Nigeria as the most promising market with huge opportunities.

He explained that the purpose to invest in Nigeria is not restricted to improving the level of infrastructures or exporting the western know- how to the country. “However, it will also be a platform where jobs are created and the workforce are been tutored under a frame work of training and re-training which will help build the country’s human capacity.

“On the sideline of the investment, about 5,000 and 10,000 of Nigerians would be empowered by our investment.

“Giving that we are leading a host of other investors in the construction sector itself and not just Extra-vaga, it will go a long way to accommodate huge percentage and support other viable partnership, thereby boosting the country’s economy away from current realities.

“Our visit for the first time is for fact finding and business meetings with stakeholders in the sector to invest on.”

Also speaking, an associate partner and CEO, Business Builders Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Ogeide, call on Nigerians with viable projects that has to do with real estate to come up with a proposition that can enable the investors buy into their project.

He stressed that the foreign investors are interested in projects such as shopping malls, hostels, and residential accommodations.

According to Ogbeide, the huge population of Nigerians who belong to the middle class create a viable opportunity for investors who are willing to offer affordable housing projects.

He noted the purpose of partnering with the Italian investors who are coming to invest in the country is borne out of the need to boost the housing deficit in Nigeria.

His words: “there are Nigerians who have great ideas as well as properties that require development but do not have the technical know-how or funds to do so; the expected investors will be willing to partner with such investors.”

He revealed that his company has being in the business of sourcing for foreign investors in the housing and construction industry since 2012, stressing that through such initiative they have contributed to the country’s infrastructural development in no small measure.

“We have being partners with the foreign investors to partner with Nigeria in this industry since 2012,” he added.

Speaking on the potentials of the investors he said, “By and large the company is into architectural designs. They design modern houses and they are bringing state of the heart technology into these business. They are to invest in the country, which is a way of foreign direct investment, FDI.”