BUSINESS EMPIRE AT A GLANCE

Igbinedion's business empire comprises 33 substantive companies some of which have international connections. It includes Okada Dry (Nigeria) Limited, bottling Ginger Ale, Bravo and Sport Cola under the Canada Dry International franchise, O.G.I. Cargo Company (Nigeria) Limited; Okada Airline Limited; Igbinedion Education Centre; Igbinedion Hospital and Medical Research Centre Limited, the United Mrican Shipping Line Limited and the Intercontinental Merchant Bank Limited, Jamaica. Two other prominent business establishments are the IBW Radio and Television, approved by the Government. The Television has been allocated Channel 22, Benin.

Within two decades of the establishment of Mid-Motors Company in 1968, the Okada Group of Companies added some 32 establishments to its fold. These include Gabdion Motors limited (1973); Nedac (Nigeria) limited, (1975); Okada Export and Import Company limited (1975); Cable and Rods Company (Nigeria) limited, (1975); I.B.W Enterprises (Nigeria) limited (1975); Okunozee and Igbinedion (Holdings) limited (1975); Day and Zimmermann (Nigeria) Limited (1979); Okada Bottling Plant (Nigeria) limited (1979); Okada Farms Limited (now Ovia Farms) (Nigeria) limited (1980); Mako Bottling Plant (Nigeria) limited (1980); Bala Bottling Plant (Nigeria) limited (1980); Okada Brewery limited (1980); Moncrief Oil International limited (19811; Swede Water (Nigeria) limited; Help (Nigeria) limited (1983); Gabdion Steel (Nigeria) Limited, (1986); Okada Wonderland limited (1987); Okada Fishing Company Limited (1987); Omah Construction limited (1987); Okada Tours Limited (1987); Okada Stevedoring (Nigeria) limited (1987); 0 & G Bakery limited (1987); La 'Phamachin (Nigeria) limited (1988); Crown Corks; Crown Estate. Limited, Nigeria Salt Factory, The Telegraph Newspaper and The Speaker Newspaper. 8 Of all the companies, Okada Dry Nigeria limited deserves a special mention being the first indigenous soft drinks bottling plant in Nigeria. It was established in December 1976 under the franchised agreement with Canada Dry International with headquarters in New York, USA. The Okada Dry limited has subsidiaries in other parts of the country including Kano and Makurdi, and a depot in Minna. The project which began with an initial investment of US$6 million has become a multi-million naira project and is at present operating with more than 8 million bottles and two million crates and produces over 1,000 crates per hour. Manned by experts in the production of soft drinks; Okada Dry remains one of the thriving industries of the Okada Group employing more than 1,500 staff.9 One other related industry established by Igbinedion is the 0 and G Bakery and Confectionery Factory, a multi-million naira project which was commissioned in June 1987 by the then Military Governor of Bendel State, Co!. John Mark Inienger. The automated baking factory was built for the Okada Group of Companies by Baker Perkins limited of Peterborough, United Kingdom, and it produces on the average some 2,500 loaves of bread per hour. The production line of 12.5 meters x 2.5 meters convectorediant diesel oil fired oven requires less than half an hour from insertion to complete baking.

The purpose of the bakery according to Chief Igbinedion, its Managing Director, is "to make life a little more comfortable for the generality of our people." In an address he delivered at the commissioning of the bakery he gave a fuller insight as to the reason for its establishment.

We are fully aware that many Bakeries are already in existence. We are equally aware that most of them are grossly inadequate i11 size, capacity, the technology employed and the quality of th product. Many of us have had the opportunity of sampling type of bread and various items of confectionery put out for consu the more advanced countries of the world. We should courage to admit that what in the majority of cases passes and confectioneries in our own country fall far below expect;

This was why Igbinedion ventured into the baking industry. f about the gains from it in terms of the cash. His basic concern w~ of standard confectioneries for the consumption of the publi working for profit is fundamental to the survival of any business hence it is pleasant to observe that rather than concentrate on " make out of it at the expense of the people, Igbinedion was thim satisfy their yearnings. The maintenance of high standard of anything he does seems to have been his basic attribute from bakery and confectionery industry was another testimony of this.

Another related industry to the 0 and G Bakery and the Okada I Industry is the NEDAC Nigeria Limited, a Carbon Dioxide 1 company established by the Okada Group to supplement the Ca requirements of the soft drink industry. The establishment of NEDl to the unavailability of adequate carbon dioxide anywhere in tl cater for the needs of the various soft drink concerns. The N dioxide manufacturing plant built at a cost of three million naira is Nigeria and it produces 250kg of carbon dioxide per hour. Its StOld some 27 tons of liquid carbon dioxide. 11 Today, NEDAC is nOl

position to satisfy the need of Okada Dry but does supply its pro( soft drink companies in the country.

Igbinedion's contribution to the industrial development of Nigeria is dimensional. He is involved in industries ranging from products d manufacturing and from mechanised farming to the development ( transportation, shipping, pharmaceuticals and banking. In most c Igbinedion occupies a pioneering position. Of course it is not pioneer; rather it is easy to follow the foot-steps of a pioneer. He e~ first indigenous motor distribution and assembly enterprises in Ni~ the first Nigerian to single handedly develop Okada village into a m centre of international standard. He was the first to establish a. airline in the country, Okada Air, and was the first Nigerian to sin build a church (Okada Baptist Church) with a capacity of 4,000 Igbinedion Hospital and Medical Research Centre is obviously the largest and...READ ON

CONCLUSION

This website has attempted to unfold Chief Osawaru Igbinedion from the cradle to manhood and from a humble beginning to a position of enermous affluence...READ ON