By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of Evergreen City, an industrial zone that is to be exclusively powered by renewable energy technology.
The Evergreen City, Nigeria’s green industrial zone is expected to be the biggest in Africa and is going to be reserved for industries involved in large-scale manufacturing.
The President has also approved the appointment of The Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) as the Lead Arranger and Developer of the Evergreen City.
This is as President Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, the supervisory technical working group, to oversee the pioneering endeavour.
The President appointed his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, who is the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action as Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on the Project Evergreen.
The terms of reference to the lead developer include the selection of partners/consultants to undertake critical development activities, including project design, environmental impact assessments, feasibility studies, financial modelling, and market engagement.
It is saddled with the responsibility of raising private funding for the development of the city and constituent projects, coordinating with partners, development institutions, and other providers of capital and technical assistance, and reporting to the Supervisory Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen
Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, CEO of InfraCorp is a member of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
He holds a first-class Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics; a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Iowa, and a Doctorate in Corporate Finance from New York University.
He was President and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric in Nigeria, where he doubled GE’s revenue. He was also the CEO of General Electric Grid Solutions Africa and led GE’s regional operations between 2008 and 2012 as President and CEO, of West, East & Central Africa.
The Secretary of the Presidential Steering Committee is Lolade Abiola (UN SE4ALL), while Salisu Dahiru (CEO, NCCC) is a member.
Other members are, Aminu Umar-Sadiq (CEO, NSIA), Khalil Halilu (CEO, NASENI), Abba Abubakar Aliyu (CEO, REA), Fatima Shinkafi (CEO, SMDF), Uzoma Nwagba (CEO, CrediCorp) and Bala Bello (Deputy Governor, CBN).
Other members include Teni Majekodunmi (NCCC), Nana Maidugu (NSIA), Michael Ivenso (NCCC), Suleiman Yusuf (Blue Camel Energy) and Chidi Ajaere (Jet EV).
A statement issued by the Presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, stated, “The President expects absolute dedication and professionalism to drive this critical project with the clear objective of making Nigeria the leading manufacturing hub in Africa for renewable energy technologies, green solutions, and climate-adaptation technologies for the maximum benefit of Nigerians and Africans at large.”
