IGBESA— More than 2,000 young people have discovered and honed their athletic capabilities through the ongoing sports sponsorship and youth development initiatives of the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ).
The Zone’s Public Relations Manager, Mr. Tope Anthony, disclosed this milestone during a press conference at the Zone’s premises on Tuesday, highlighting how OGFTZ’s commitment to athletic empowerment sits alongside its broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives spanning infrastructure, education, healthcare, and agriculture.
Tope emphasized that sporting events sponsored by the Zone serve as vital platforms for talent discovery, youth engagement, and community building across the host communities. The sports initiatives complement OGFTZ’s annual youth empowerment programme, which has provided grants and business starter kits to enable young entrepreneurs to launch and expand their enterprises.
The focus on athletic development forms part of a comprehensive strategy to empower the local population. Beyond sports, OGFTZ has driven social transformation through several key initiatives:
Infrastructure & Mobility: Road construction projects, including the Oba Adesola Market Road, have improved mobility and trade links for an estimated 350,000 residents, facilitating access to local commercial centers.
Education & Scholarships: OGFTZ established and has sustained the China–Nigeria Friendship School in Igbesa for over 14 years, currently serving more than 700 pupils. Over 10,000 students have participated in its inter-school knowledge competitions. The Zone also provides free Chinese language classes, fully funded international scholarships to study in China, and regular donations of educational equipment, sewing machines, stationery, and cash prizes to local public schools.
Healthcare Services: The Zone constructed a modern hospital block for the community, conducts periodic medical outreaches, and regularly donates essential medical supplies to local facilities.
Water & Social Welfare: OGFTZ built a solar-powered community water facility providing clean water to over 5,000 residents, while also extending financial support and business starter kits to 20 local widows.
Agricultural Support: Through its agronomy outreach, hundreds of local farmers have received agricultural training and starter kits to increase crop yields and bolster rural livelihoods.
Speaking on the Zone’s overarching impact, the Administrative Manager of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Mr. Steven Makanjuola, underscored the industrial park’s strategic role in strengthening economic relations, investment, and technology transfer between Nigeria and China.
”If Igbesa was my village, I wouldn’t just build a house there; I’ll have a business presence here,” Makanjuola remarked, describing the host town as fortunate to host the free trade zone.
Acknowledging that community growth requires continuous effort, Makanjuola reaffirmed OGFTZ’s commitment to ongoing engagement with traditional institutions, community leaders, and government agencies to ensure future interventions align with the evolving needs of its host communities.
