PM Douglas invites Nigeria’s computer manufacturer to invest in St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas speaks to officials of the Zinox Technologies.

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, DECEMBER 5TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kilts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has invited a Nigerian computer manufacturer to invest in the twin-island Federation.

Prime Minister Douglas ho was in Lagos, Nigeria last week, issued the invitation when he was hosted by top officials of Zinox, the first computer manufacturer in Nigeria to achieve the NIS ISO 9001 – 2000 QMS Certification.

Dr. Douglas said the move that would see the two countries strike technology exchange and expressed hope for strong Nigerian ICT players like Zinox Technologies and a few other computer companies to invest in the people of St. Kitts and Nevis thus having access to the nations of the Caribbean Community.

Dr. Douglas expressed satisfaction with the level of ICT growth in Nigeria, praying for a time his country would have a technology transfer alliance with Nigeria.

The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, His Excellency Sen. Ike Ekweremmadu, who he said has been a long time friend and brother was also constantly preaching the gospel of Nigeria’s ICT prowess to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.

According to him, his country until 2005 was known as the foremost sugar agriculturist in the Caribbean states before fierce global competition forced it to stop and diversify into other sector to achieve economic stability.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (left) receives a laptop from Zenox Technologies Chairman Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh.

He said that right now his country was exploring better ways of improving its economy with ICT services and the Nigerian experience has given him hope.

“I have always wished to visit Zinox having read a lot in the social and print media about the purpose and character of the Group and the world class structure and processes that I have just seen surpassed my wildest imaginations. I can now say that there is hope for Nigeria and I will take the message of this hope home to my people. I thank my friend the Deputy Senate President for making this visit possible’.

He described Chairman of Zinox technologies, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh as an entrepreneur, a tireless task master who often works night and day to make concrete the ideas crystallizing from his dreams, adding that his sacrifices and vision have built him a conglomerate rated as Africa’s most integrated ICT Company.

Douglas further stated that ‘Africa needs more people like you who are prepared to take the bull by the horn – creating wealth, employment and catalyzing national development. Africa needs genuine and sincere entrepreneurs who will help this continent to free the people from poverty and superstition.

Africa needs entrepreneurs who will challenge the dominance of technology by the developed economies of the world. The Zinox Group is definitely a step in the right direction and this Group would enhance the profile of Nigeria in the digital world.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas tours the plant.

Africa needs entrepreneurs who will challenge the dominance of technology by the developed economies of the world. The Zinox Group is definitely a step in the right direction and this Group would enhance the profile of Nigeria in the digital world.

Maybe Nigerians do not know what they have here but I bet that it is capable of representing the country not only in sub Saharan Africa but in the world. I am looking forward to such a time when my country and Nigeria would strike good relationship that would result in technology transfer between the two countries.

However, he revealed that one of the benefits his country was enjoying since foray into ICT from sugar agriculture was the successful distribution of computers to every secondary school student in the country. The idea according to him was not only to empower them to becoming wealth creators in good time but to also prepare them as tomorrow’s developers of St Kitts economy.

Earlier, in his goodwill message, Sen. Ike Ekweremmadu had also revealed that he met Dr. Douglas during one of his travels to the Island and opened up discussions which had led to his visit. He also hinted that Dr. Douglas has been taken round the country, particularly those areas where ICT has strong bases, including Abuja, Lagos and Akwa Ibom.

The warehouse of Zinox Technologies in Lagos, Nigeria. (Photos by Erasmus Williams)

The event attracted prominent Nigerians including Prof Anya O Anya, Prof Ibidapo Obe, Dr. Chris Uwaje, Mr. Sam Amuka and Mr. Ray Ekpu among others.

In their goodwill messages, Prof Obe expressed happiness that the Deputy Senate President facilitated the visit. He noted that Zinox was creating footprints that would continue to keep Nigeria strongly in the world map. He described it as a positive sign because with global technology, there were no more excuses to underdevelopment.

Both Prof Anya, Uwaje and Amuka corroborated Prof Obe, saying that Douglas’ visit was like home coming since Nigeria and the rest of Africa consider the Caribbean as brothers.

But it was Mr. Amuka who informed Douglas that most Nigerians actually regards Zinox as the Nigerian dream, adding that Zinox’s exploits can only show what would happen if governance could become a little bit better.