Ambode Commends ‘Home &You’ On Ultra-modern Furniture Factory

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has commended Mrs. Feyisola Abiru, Chief Executive Officer and founder of “The Home and You” for establishing its ultra-modern furniture factory; even as he urged Nigerians to continue to patronize made in Nigeria products.

The Commissioning of the ‘Home & You’ Ultra-modern Furniture Factory, Lagos. (L-R) Lagos state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, Mrs. Feyisola Abiru, Chief Executive Officer and founder of “The Home and You” (Middle), Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, Mrs. Risikat Abiru, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye (CON), HRM Oba Abdul-Kabir Adewale Shotobi, Oba of Ikorodu and the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye.

Speaking during the commissioning of the facility, which held in Ikorodu Lagos, the Governor said that the factory would produce industrial made-in-Nigeria furniture that can compete globally for both corporate and home use within and outside Nigeria, noting that “it is only through this means that the local economy could be developed.”

Governor Ambode, who was represented by Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, and Mrs. Olayinka Oladunayo, both commissioners  for Physical Planning and Commerce & Industry , described the sitting of the factory at Ibeshe, a suburb of Ikorodu, as a key driver for the economy of the state and the country at large.

“This is the first furniture company of its kind in the Ikorodu axis and a clear indication that the efforts of Lagos Sate government to provide security and infrastructure is beginning to yield positive fruits,” he said.

Mrs. Abiru, while responding to questions fielded in by the media on what spurred her to achieve this feat, identified, “passion and an undying crave for success had been the reason I was able to whether the storms in the early days of the 21 year old business.”

She particularly noted the exemplary role and support of Bank of Industry (BOI), in the realization of the noble dream which today has become one of the major economic drivers in Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole.

“But for the support from BOI, we won’t be here today. They gave us the first facility in 2006 to get us running. We acquired world class machines from Italy, when we needed to improve on our quality and expand the capacity of the business, we approached them again for another facility which was granted in 2017,” she said.

On his part, Olusegun Osunkeye, the pioneer chairman of the company, described the ‘Home and You’ as a great edifice, noting that  Nigeria would benefit from the establishment of the ultra-modern furniture factory as it would create employment and boost the local content policy of the government.  “They will use local wood to produce first class furniture, so it will create employment and because it is profitable, government will get its taxes, and impact skills on the surrounding. So, it is a factory that will bring many benefits to its immediate surroundings, Lagos state and ultimately to the country at large,” he said.

At the current rate of population growth, more than 500 million Africans are projected to live in cities by 2030. This growth as well as favourable government policies in some African countries is believed to  favour the furniture business as this is anticipated to increase the demand for real estate; residential accommodation, office space, hotels and schools.