Dangote Oil Refinery rekindles hope for decent work, industrialization – Issa Aremu

The final take off of the 650,000 barrels per day (BPD) Dangote Oil Refinery 
has been described as a timely solution to bridge the gaps of unemployment and industrialisation of the country.
The refinery opened by the former President, Muhammadu Buhari penultimate week is expected to meet 100 percent of Nigeria’s demand for all refined products. 
The Director General, Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies ( MINILS), Issa Aremu described the refinery as the most singular positive development narrative changer for Nigeria and Africa since independence and end of colonialism. 
Aremu, while congratulating Alhaji Aliko the President of the Dangote Group on the inauguration of the $19.5 billion investment and the most expensive industrial complex in Africa, noted that the historic commission has further confirmed Dangote as Africa’s consistent and resilient industrialist who has shown that there is a long, but rewarding walk to Africa’s re-industrialization and economic growth.
“Undoubtedly the richest man in the continent, but what increasingly marks Aliko out is his consistent commitment and trade mark of value addition and beneficiation to the abundant raw materials in the continent and creation of much needed mass employment for African workers,” Aremu said.
According to the Director General, Dangote Group of industries is fast changing the narrative of the continent from that of ‘resource curse’  to resource beneficiation, value addition and mass employment through industrialization.
Aremu said the refinery inauguration taking place on the eve of inauguration of the new President elect Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu comes with renewed hope agenda of posterity and mass job creation. 
He said, “The point cannot be overstated. The future of Africa lies in Industrialization which means the process of transforming raw materials, with the aid of labour and capital goods, into consumer goods and new capital goods. 
“The advantages of industrialization include, creation of sustainable mass decent jobs, lessening of dependency on imports, thus saving scarce foreign exchange and enhanced government revenue through company taxes.”
Aremu called for a robust partnership for politics of development between governments at all levels, private sector and organized labour, adding that Dangote refinery shows that Africa’s development renaissance lies in cooperation and participation. 
He emphasised that the strong point of refinery when fully operational is the positive impact of sustainability of hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect decent jobs against the background of youth unemployment and under-employment in the country.