Can you tell us about CDW?
Concrete Design and Works is a civil engineering firm duly registered under the corporate laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The company was registered in September 2011 and has successfully designed and managed to complete several civil engineering projects, ranging from structures to road drainage, fluid mechanics,water and waste water management, plastic recycling, remediation works and environmental pollution related matters. We have created a niche for ourselves in the area of construction and most importantly, ownership is 100% Nigerian. We have our corporate office in Lagos and virtual office in Abuja.
What was the motive behind the company?
The motive was basically to create solutions to building and structural deficiencies. Most of our people are penny wise, pounds foolish, I'm sorry to use that phrase but in the real sense, you will observe that most of us in the country like cheap things, therefore they tend to compromise professional touch and hunt for cheap labour in civil engineering works. This singular factor has affected the quality of most buildings in this part of the world, hence the reason many structures are collapsing.
So Concrete Design and Works was set up to give affordable and quality solutions to individuals and corporate organisation to ensure quality compliance.
You are an indigenous company,how do you cope with competition with foreign construction firm?
I was actually expecting that question and I'm very elated you asked. If I tell you that it has been of no concern to us, I would obviously be lying, I would tell you categorically that this has been our greatest challenge and I am positive that we would start phasing out that belief that foreign construction firms are more capable.
I am of the opinion that there is nothing foreign construction firms are capable of doing that we can't do,even if foreigners have an edge because of the society they come from, ownership shouldn't be compromised,we have foreigners also on our staff list, as I speak to you, I can categorically tell you that seven experienced foreigners are on our staff list but on the other hand, I want to assure you that ownership is ten per cent Nigerian with Otunba Adetunbi R.O.A as the chairman of the board.
The consequence of favouring foreign construction firm at the expense of indigenous ones is that we would be gradually infiltrating our economy and our monies would be used to develop another economy while we continue to suffer poverty, joblessness and insecurity as we are currently doing today.
Our leaders must start thinking outside the box ,it is so unfortunate that as easy as governance seems, we find it hard to govern appropriately.
What are the challenges you face operating such a firm in Nigeria ?
The major challenge is insecurity. The financial institutions are also not helping matters,perhaps the government should make policies that would make our local banks concur to making our jobs easier.
What motivates you as an individual?
I hate poverty.I absolutely detest poverty. Another major motivation is that I wish to retire at 40. I am 33yrs now, so my retirement, God's willing is in another 7yrs,that alone is a motivational factor. It keeps me going.
But do you think indigenous company can handle elaborate project?
The answer is yes. there are indigenous companies with foreign outlook,there are indigenous companies with indigenous outlook,but you can never find a foreign company with an indigenous outlook.
What I am saying in essence is that we are less concerned about the people that make up the human resource and technical team, our concern basically is the ownership of these companies, if these companies are locally owned,it would defintely have an effect on the wealth of the nation and also the employment rate.
We are not clamouring against foreign participation in the areas of employment,what we want the government to migitate against is full foreign domination which obtains in Nigeria today. Julius Berger, theCCEC, the RCC and co are all foreign companies.
So to answer your question, Nigerians are technically sound, in fact more clever and technical than the foreigners,the equipments are also accessible. The only difference between an indigenous and foreign firm is,perception and orientation as regards skin colour and also politics
Culled from Aspire Tribune
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