* Tetrazzini Group to build 10 000 houses throughout the country * Our housing sector can take direct employment of 25 000 to 30 000 - Okonkwo
Botswana has caught a big fish ready to invest millions of Pula in Dr. Prince Donatus Okonkwo – a Nigerian entrepreneur, philanthropist, chairman and founder of Tetrazzini Group - a conglomerate with operations in construction, Real Estate and Agro farming.
In an interview with Botswana Guardian, Okonkwo boldly states that they have plans to build a viral and sustainable company that will be listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), and provide a lot of job opportunities, as well as contribute to the GDP of the country.
"We are going to be quick to list in the BSE in the medium term period which should happen within three to five years’ time”. Okonkwo visited Botswana at least twice this year within a space of three months, having previously came in July to attend the US-Africa Business Summit. He was here last week for the Global Expo where he was a panellist at the #PushaBW Forum. Other panellists who shared the platform with him were Resego Kepadile of
Morupule Mine, Mmetla Masire of the Okavango Diamond Company and Zindzi Letsididi of Neo Hub.
Their discussion was based on the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy (CEEP) and how and why development and corporates should think and work differently to achieve the objective of CEEP to grow local business.
However, despite having so much confidence about Botswana’s conducive environment, Okonkwo is first to admit that it was not a smooth sailing as there are some challenges regarding the slow processes and procedures that need to be undertaken.
Okonkwo extended his stay in the country this week in order to ensure that he departs having signed working documents in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding which stipulates how his partnership with local and Tetrazzini Group of Companies who are ready to invest in real estate of up to 10 000 decent and affordable accommodation as well as farming, will unfold.
In an interview with Botswana Guardian, Okonkwo described himself as “a serial entrepreneur who build the company from kinder-garden to being listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
“It is a great pleasure for me to be in Botswana because I know this country has a bright future. Botswana is everybody‘s hope that must be made a home for the African International Trade and Investments.
"I have no doubt that Botswana will rise above any other Southern African country because of the ease of doing business, good and sustainable leadership, Democracy and adherence to rule of law. In my view, going forward things will thrive without doubt and Batswana are going to win and win big.
“That is why as investors we are heading to this country, we want to be part of the success story, we are aware of the very strong leadership of President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“We want to support his programmes and vision. We are here for good, not here for a quick buck”.
He added that they are confident that “we are likely to be the first housing company that will provide the disruption that is needed in real estate and housing developments”.
Okonkwo’s company aspires to be the largest employer and believes this will happen because “we know that the housing sector can at least take direct employment of over 25 000 to 30 000 personnel and indirect employment of over 150 000 personnel at a go”. He said their aim is to provide mass affordable houses.
"We have a programme dubbed, 'Each family, each house.' What we intend to with this programme in the next 10 years, is for every family to own their own home. Our initial plan which is still being fine-tuned should be perfected within the next two weeks.
“This is a 10-year plan and we are looking at the highest number of houses we can deliver on annual basis in both cities, towns and villages. We are going to be in partnership because the government of Botswana is extremely desirous of partnership."
Okonkwo said they are also looking at investing huge in agriculture, as it is a must for them. He said with huge arable land in Botswana, good atmosphere, their international development partners are extremely serious in agriculture and plan to make Botswana a hub for agricultural produce starting from dairy products to fruits, vegetables and all kinds of short, mid and long-term agricultural products.
In an interview with Botswana Guardian, Okonkwo boldly states that they have plans to build a viral and sustainable company that will be listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), and provide a lot of job opportunities, as well as contribute to the GDP of the country.
"We are going to be quick to list in the BSE in the medium term period which should happen within three to five years’ time”. Okonkwo visited Botswana at least twice this year within a space of three months, having previously came in July to attend the US-Africa Business Summit. He was here last week for the Global Expo where he was a panellist at the #PushaBW Forum. Other panellists who shared the platform with him were Resego Kepadile of
Morupule Mine, Mmetla Masire of the Okavango Diamond Company and Zindzi Letsididi of Neo Hub.
Their discussion was based on the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy (CEEP) and how and why development and corporates should think and work differently to achieve the objective of CEEP to grow local business.
However, despite having so much confidence about Botswana’s conducive environment, Okonkwo is first to admit that it was not a smooth sailing as there are some challenges regarding the slow processes and procedures that need to be undertaken.
Okonkwo extended his stay in the country this week in order to ensure that he departs having signed working documents in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding which stipulates how his partnership with local and Tetrazzini Group of Companies who are ready to invest in real estate of up to 10 000 decent and affordable accommodation as well as farming, will unfold.
In an interview with Botswana Guardian, Okonkwo described himself as “a serial entrepreneur who build the company from kinder-garden to being listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
“It is a great pleasure for me to be in Botswana because I know this country has a bright future. Botswana is everybody‘s hope that must be made a home for the African International Trade and Investments.
"I have no doubt that Botswana will rise above any other Southern African country because of the ease of doing business, good and sustainable leadership, Democracy and adherence to rule of law. In my view, going forward things will thrive without doubt and Batswana are going to win and win big.
“That is why as investors we are heading to this country, we want to be part of the success story, we are aware of the very strong leadership of President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“We want to support his programmes and vision. We are here for good, not here for a quick buck”.
He added that they are confident that “we are likely to be the first housing company that will provide the disruption that is needed in real estate and housing developments”.
Okonkwo’s company aspires to be the largest employer and believes this will happen because “we know that the housing sector can at least take direct employment of over 25 000 to 30 000 personnel and indirect employment of over 150 000 personnel at a go”. He said their aim is to provide mass affordable houses.
"We have a programme dubbed, 'Each family, each house.' What we intend to with this programme in the next 10 years, is for every family to own their own home. Our initial plan which is still being fine-tuned should be perfected within the next two weeks.
“This is a 10-year plan and we are looking at the highest number of houses we can deliver on annual basis in both cities, towns and villages. We are going to be in partnership because the government of Botswana is extremely desirous of partnership."
Okonkwo said they are also looking at investing huge in agriculture, as it is a must for them. He said with huge arable land in Botswana, good atmosphere, their international development partners are extremely serious in agriculture and plan to make Botswana a hub for agricultural produce starting from dairy products to fruits, vegetables and all kinds of short, mid and long-term agricultural products.
