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A Chinese steel manufacturing firm, based in Ogua community, on the outskirts of Benin City, Edo State, has thrown a challenge to fellow foreign companies operating in the country, to be patient with Nigeria and not to run away because of the country’s current difficulties.
In an address during an interactive session with the media and other interest groups, held at the company’s premises at the weekend, the Managing Director, Mr. Frank Wang, whose address was read by Mr. Ben Den, observed that “there is no economy in the world that does not have difficulties from time to time. Our duty is to support the Nigerian nation in her efforts to surmount the current difficulties. Everybody in the country will love us more, if we are among those that helped Nigeria to scale through some of these challenges. So, expatriates should not run away when Nigeria needs them most”.
He also praised the people of the Ogua community for being very peaceful, loving and accommodating to Yongxing company. In his words, “ it is a rural community on the outskirts of Benin City, but we are happy to be here in the midst of loving and peaceful community people”
Mr Wang also highlighted the progress his company had made in its eight years of existence in Nigeria, but said “we are not a company that just takes pride only in how we are growing. We take more pride in our contributions to the economy, to the community where we do business and the wellbeing of our staff and customers.”
He went ahead to identify some of the company’s contributions to the Ogua community over time, especially during Covid-19 pandemic when the company provided some palliatives to the indigenes, as well as to the government of Edo State.
On the staff side, he identified some motivational programmes for the staff, including trips to China for outstanding performers. He however pointed out that the company would continue to improve on staff welfare schemes.
In his own speech at the occasion, the Enogie of Ogua Community, OgiesobaAghaghowen, confirmed that Yongxing Steel Community had been alive to its duties as a socially responsible company and expressed happiness with the presence of the company in the Ogua community.
On the issue of unionism in the company, Mr. Wang pointed out that this was affected by the desire of the majority of the staff who were opposed to union in the company, based on their understanding that the union would be debiting them. He therefore asked those who want to form the union to first enlighten their colleagues and convince them instead of assuming that the management is opposed to the idea of a union, especially as some of the junior staff who attended the interactive session strongly voiced out their opposition to the idea of a union within the company
The Managing Director also promised that the interactive session would take place more frequently, pointing out that, “ for you our media friends here today, this is a new beginning for all of us. We have been doing a lot that you do not know about. As a result of that, there has been some misunderstanding and misinformation about our activities. But today marks the beginning of a new era where we will interact more frequently and you get to know more what we are doing as a business and in the community. We therefore urge you to always find time to clarify any issues about us with us so that we can provide you more information. Henceforth, our doors will be open to you and from time to time, we will call you like this one so that we can interact and find time to exchange ideas”