“In the not too distant future, Nigeria will become Africa’s maiden superpower that will be reputed for addressing some of the world’s most complex and critical challenges”, – Habeeb Okunola,
By Bode Durojaiye
Chief Habeeb Okunola, the Akosin of Yorubaland, is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TILT Group of Companies.
TILT Group excels in the construction, energy, engineering, agriculture, and technology sectors to create value, enhance the economy and drive shared prosperity and sustainable development in Nigeria.
TILT Group is a diversified global conglomerate of companies in various fields of expertise, combining professionals from all over the world alongside highly qualified local talents to provide tailored solutions to meet the need of Nigerians. Operating for over a decade,
TILT Group has grown to become an international solutions provider with diversified investments spanning key business sectors of the African economy.
Habeeb Okunola, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, “, it is all about collaboration and innovation. Collaboration is the new business currency. The more we commit to collaboration, the closer we are to our solutions and sustainable development. In the not too distant future.
” Nigeria is going to become a superpower, and nations, international organisations and people from all works of life across the globe will be forced to reckon with us to address their pressing challenges. We are beginning to see this manifest via various innovation hubs and unicorns that are meeting the local and international technology (blockchain, fintech, digital currency) demands”.
TILT Group has completed over 250 projects with a multitude of ongoing projects in various critical sectors of the Nigerian economy that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP). Previous Infrastructure projects executed via TILT Construction include road constructions, primary health care centre, a stadium and a multipurpose hall in Adamawa Yola.
Chief Okunola disclosed that , “We just completed a 120-kilometre road in Taraba State and we intend to start with Lagos State. We are also constructing the ultra-modern Visual Arts Centre and ICT Hub in Ilorin, Kwara State.” Additional projects are being executed by TILT Energy, where the subsidiary is working on a steam turbine for the ownership of a power plant known as Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NIDP), as well as a power plant in Bahrain in collaboration with French partner Schneider Electric”.
In terms of sustainable development in Nigeria, Chief Okunola stated that the infrastructure sector is the catalyst toward shared prosperity and sustainable growth.
According to him, “today, the government is developing and facilitating access to the rural areas by putting infrastructure in previously underserved places, including the construction of railway lines and expanding road network to rural areas to boost trade and economic activities.
“These are some of the major achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration.” The infrastructure expansion initiatives of the government have a positive spiral effect on Nigerians, Nigeria as a nation, and Nigerian businesses. This also provides an avenue for TILT Construction and TILT Energy to collaborate and work toward the sustainable development objectives of Nigeria.
The Akosin of Yorubaland went further,, ” in Nigeria, achieving sustainability means economic sovereignty and self-reliance. With self-sufficiency in mind, TILT Group is partnering with a subsidiary of the CBN called Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
” The objective is to be a ‘partner in progress’ with the government towards consolidating national food security. Okunola says, “The moment we get the agricultural solutions right with smallholder farmers who are the foot soldiers of agriculture in Nigeria, there won’t be any need for us to look outside of the shores of Nigeria for food and agriculture products.
“We must scale up and consolidate our agricultural resources, when this is done, you will realise that we have what it takes to influence the world economy because Nigeria has the numbers (human resources) at its advantage, we are also the only African country with the greatest capabilities to play a global role.
“To push this agenda forward, investment in agriculture and climate change initiatives are fundamental towards increasing the potentials of our farmland and farmers, thus eliminating the need to rely on imports from other countries for basic food needs.
“Despite the challenges presented throughout 2020, the international environment is set to rebound over the upcoming years, and TILT Group is evolving by digitising its process and operation to match up with global trends and best practices”.
Chief Okunola submitted that “moving forward, we have begun making investments in technology; through TILT Asset Management, which seeks to provide Artificial Intelligence and blockchain solutions for entities and organisations.
The Business Mogul asserted that TILT Asset Management is also focusing on education technology, data analytics and fintech, which are disrupting the financial sector and the society at large. Okunola continues,
“We know the technology space is the place where we must be an active player rather than being a participant. It’s not going to be just about what is “normal” anymore but what is possible.” Indeed, a strong focus on digital infrastructure and technology will propel TILT Group forward as pioneers in providing solutions in Nigeria.
The Akosin of Yorubaland however concluded thus, ‘ their continued work and future investments will continue to interconnect Nigerian businesses and people so that all may play a critical role in the wellbeing of Nigeria’s economic landscape”.
