Odu’a Investment opens 2 malls in Ibadan

GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

The Odua Investment Conglomerate in western Nigeria, today commissioned N3b Heritage and Cocoa malls in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State , with Governor Abiola Ajimobi promising to provide conducive environment that will attract both local and foreign investors.

The Heritage mall solely financed by Odu’a Investment cost N2 billion and the Cocoa mall cost N1 billion.

In his speech,Governor Ajimobi said that his administration has created the environment of peace as against what he met before taking over the mantle of leadership stressing that his administration would make Oyo state business and leisure friendly for the citizens and investors.

He stated that his administration has embarked on massive infrastructure development and beautification of the environment to allow investors to invest in the state.

While promising that his government would continue to partner with private sectors, international and donor agencies to develop the state, the governor said the building of the malls by Odua was in tandem with his transformation agenda.

Ajimobi who commended the conglomerate for the giant strides which would boost economic activities of the city assured that he would complement what Odua has done with plans to build an hotel to be owned by the state at the back of Premier Hotel.

The Chairman of Odua, Sharafadeen Alli said the commissioning of the malls would make things happen in turning positively the economic situation of the South West states of Nigeria adding, “I have the belief that there will be a replication of these malls in the remaining states that make up Odua in the near future.”

The Managing Director of the conglomerate , Mr. Adebayo Jimoh said the development of the malls was borne out of perceived need or demand by high net-worth individuals in the South West who spend time and money travelling to Lagos at weekends to shop.

“Of particular interest are some expatriates community here in Ibadan with police escort for their weekend shopping”, he added.

At the ceremony were representatives of Ogun, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo state governments, joint owners of Odua Investment, along with Oyo.