The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode, on Thursday, demonstrated his
commitment to attract foreign investors into
the State by approving land for the
establishment of a training centre in Lagos
where architects, civil engineers and
craftsmen will be trained on modern trends
and technologies in the construction sector.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode with Leader of Delegation,
Knauf Group Management Committee, Isabel
Knauf and Consul General of Germany,
Mr. Ingo Herbert during a Courtesy
visit to the Governor at the Lagos House,
Ikeja, on Thursday, September 8, 2016.
Ambode gives land to German firm investing
$75m in Lagos

*…Says Investment Confirms Nigeria’ll Come
Out Of Recession
*…Firm To Create 15,200 Direct Employment,
Train 800 Annually
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode, on Thursday, demonstrated his
commitment to attract foreign investors into
the State by approving land for the
establishment of a training centre in Lagos
where architects, civil engineers and
craftsmen will be trained on modern trends
and technologies in the construction sector.
Governor Ambode, who gave the approval
when he received a delegation from The
Knauf Group, which is a German firm
currently establishing a $75miilion building/
construction tools manufacturing factory in
Lagos, said the approval for the land became
imperative in view of the need to encourage
investors to continue to invest in Lagos.
The Knauf Group is one of the world’s
leading manufacturers of modern insulation
materials, dry lining systems, plasters and
accessories, thermal insulation composite
systems, paints, floor screed, floor systems,
and construction equipment and tools.
The delegation was led by a member of the
Management Committee of the firm, Isabel
Knauf and Consular General of German
Embassy in Lagos, Mr. Ingo Herbert.
Governor Ambode, who recalled the last time
Herbert visited the Lagos House about eleven
months ago, said his administration has
remained focused to the promise of
upholding judicial and security sector
reforms, as well as creating a friendly
environment for investment to thrive.
He said the massive investment by The
Knauf Group in Lagos was a pointer to the
fact that investors were still willing to invest
in Nigeria despite the economic recession,
and that the country will come out of the
economic doldrums even stronger.
“I must commend the German government
and The Knauf Group for showing something
important to all Nigerians that beyond the
economic recession, their total believe in our
economy is unshaken because it is not
enough for any investor to come into an area
where they have never invested before and
months after, the parameters for investment
are not really looking good, but you stuck in
there and beyond the fact that you have
gone to procure land, you also have an
established office within the last eleven
months and you are already pumping in
money into what you want to do.
“This is a great pointer to the fact that you
believe in the Lagos economy and also
believe in the future of Nigeria and I like to
encourage other investors to emulate what
your firm and government is doing in Lagos
and as they show interest, we will not
hesitate to give them the necessary support,”
the Governor said.
Governor Ambode said The Knauf Group
specifically deserved to be commended for
not just investing in Nigeria, but also
bringing the German vocational expertise on
an area of construction that was hitherto not
in existence in Nigeria into Lagos.
Besides, the Governor said he was excited
about the fact that the firm was not just
establishing a factory here in Lagos, but also
a training centre where Nigerians will be
trained, adding that he would stop at nothing
to encourage investors such as The Knauf
Group.
Earlier, Isabel Knauf said the team was at
the Lagos House to brief Governor Ambode
on the progress made so far since the
project started in September 2015.
She said the firm has 23 training centres all
over the world training about 14,000 people
annually, and that they would like to build
the same training centre in Lagos where
architects, civil engineers and craftsmen
would be trained on how to technically
install their products.
She said upon completion of the factory, the
firm would create 25,000 direct employment,
adding that the training centre will cost
about two million Euros to establish, while at
least 800 Nigerians will be trained annually in
the first phase.
Knauf, however, solicited the support of the
State Government in land space for the
training centre and permit issues, a request
which was instantly granted by the Governor.

source
http://www.vanguardngr.
com/2016/09/ambode-gives-land-german-firm-
investing-75m-lagos/