Ebonyi partners chinese firm to revive nkalagu cement, establish ICT manufacturing hub

The Ebonyi State Government has approved a strategic partnership with a Chinese engineering company to revive the Nkalagu Cement Industry.

The Government also unveiled plans to establish an electronics manufacturing hub at the ICT University, Oferekpe and develop Herbal Heritage Gardens across the State’s three Senatorial Districts.

The decisions were reached during an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council (EXCO) chaired by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru following his return from an investment mission to China.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ikeuwa Omebeh, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, said the Council approved the design, construction and operation of a 6,000-tonnes-per-day Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) cement plant at the Nkalagu Cement Industry in partnership with Jiangsu Pengfei Group Ltd.

He said the project would revive one of Nigeria’s oldest cement factories, stimulate industrial growth, create jobs and restore Nkalagu’s position as a major cement-producing hub.

Omebeh said EXCO was also briefed on the economic benefits of the governor’s China investment mission, particularly in education, technology transfer and industrial development.

According to him, the State Government will deploy smart digital technology in secondary schools and establish an electronics manufacturing company at the ICT University, Oferekpe, where digital cameras and other electronic devices will be produced.

“The vision of this administration is to transform the ICT University into a centre of innovation, technology and manufacturing that will attract investors, researchers and students from across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

He added that the university would operate independently of the national electricity grid, noting that power-generating equipment had already been procured and delivered to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.

The commissioner further announced that EXCO approved the establishment of Ebonyi State Herbal Heritage Gardens in the state’s three senatorial zones.

He said the initiative would be implemented jointly by the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, Health, and Agriculture and Natural Resources to preserve medicinal plants, promote indigenous healthcare and unlock the economic value of herbal resources.

As part of the implementation process, the Council directed the immediate commencement of stakeholder engagements, identification of suitable locations and the development of a regulatory framework in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and relevant research institutions.

Omebeh also stated that EXCO approved the preparation and submission, within 90 days, of a supplementary memorandum to provide legislative backing for the standardisation of herbal medicine, protection of intellectual property rights and integration of certified herbal practices into the State’s primary healthcare system.

He said the approvals reflect Governor Nwifuru’s commitment to diversifying Ebonyi’s economy through investments in manufacturing, technology, education, healthcare and tourism while leveraging international partnerships to drive sustainable economic growth and employment.