By Ebi Kesiena and John Ikani
Situated at a pivotal area in Idu Industrial District, Abuja is Zeetin Precision Engineering, a huge factory poised to drive Nigeria’s technological revolution.
At the heart of operations in the factory is Zeetin’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Azibaola who prides Zeetin as a flagship company he wants to be the focal point of attention when and wherever his name is mentioned.
“As you can see, I’m a worker,“ the 52-year-old confirmed after he suspended working on a plasma cutting machine to exchange pleasantries with Heritage Times Deputy Editor, Ebi Kesiena and reporter, John Ikani.
“I have several other companies but the most prominent ones are Kakatar which is focused on construction and of course, Zeetin.
“Zeetin is my flagship company which I’m very proud of and want to be the focal point of me,“ stressed Robert before taking his inquisitive visitors on a tour of the factory.
Donned in a customised polo T-shirt, a red face cap and Jean trousers which many regard as the typical casual garb of engineers in Nigeria, Robert had a knack for sensing curiosities that enveloped the minds of tourists and he tactfully went about satisfying them like a mind reader.
“This is Zeetin Precision Engineering,” he formally announced to signal the commencement of the tour. “We are still building this factory which is about 70% complete. At this stage, we do basic fabrication and are making procurement for more machines.”
Anyone who takes a cursory glance at facilities running into billions of Naira installed at the factory would agree that it is somewhat close to being the finished article.
Like car enthusiasts would rave about the capabilities of automobiles in their garage, Robert didn’t disguise his admiration for the state of the art machinery in the factory and waxed lyrical about the cutting edge technologies that power them.
“What I’ve been doing over the years is to invest profits accrued from other businesses into buying machines. I love and operate machines. Any machine I can’t operate leaves me very sad,” he declared.
“My hobby is to look into machines and see how they are operated. I don’t buy machines for luxury. I buy machines that make machines.“
Among the equipment already installed and working at the factory are hydraulic swing beam shears machine, plate rolling/bending machine, tank dish flanging machine, hydraulic steel worker machine, hydraulic angle rolling machine, hydraulic press brake, 5-axis waterjet cutting machine, crimping machine, plasma cutting machine, Accuway Lathe machine and the UMC-1600 machine which is the second of its kind in Africa.
All of these put together can produce any component or part needed to churn out a car, truck or any other machine as they are essentially used in forging rings, flanges, bearings, gears, wheels and sleeve rings for use by the automobile, aerospace, oil and gas industry.
Among the numerous potentials of the factory, Robert has a specific singled out aim. To fabricate the first made in Nigeria engine at Zeetin Precision Engineering.
“Nigeria imports almost everything including toothpicks, toothbrushes, among other minor things that developed countries manufacture with ease. How do I change the narrative? How do I become a pioneer that can build the nation’s technological space to a level from which other innovators can leverage to develop our nation technologically,” he quizzed with modest puzzling looks as if he hasn’t everything figured out already.
“My aim is to advance Nigeria technologically. A country without technology is bound to be stagnant. It pains me that a nation of over 200 million people cannot make engines 60 years after independence. Yes, we have situations where people are assembling cars and other vehicles in-country but there hasn’t been a truly Nigerian made engine that was built from blocks of metals and carved into an engine block. It’s not rocket science. That’s exactly what the machines assembled here do! Anything can be made here provided it’s not for warfare,” said the trained lawyer and human rights activist.
“I always advise Nigerians that to evolve from the present hopeless state to the level of technological development, we must learn to acquire machines that make machines, instead of buying finished products. A good step in that direction is understanding that machines which make the finished products we derive utility from were made by humans with the same brain capacity like ours.”
With just 30% of work left to declare the factory completed, Robert is not lost on services that will be offered by Zeetin and how the factory compares to its counterparts in Africa and other industrialised worlds.
“Upon completion, there will only be a few places on earth that you can see all the facilities installed here. Go to America, Europe and other industrialised nations, the same equipment we have here at Zeetin are the same used there.
“Asides gearing up to begin fabrication of spares for aeronautics, automobile as well as oil and gas industries, we are also focused on making Nigeria’s first automobile whether electric, petrol or diesel. The focus will be on engines because no one in the country has risen to the challenge to build engines.
“Zeetin is also looking at heavy-duty machinery. Nigeria can’t continue to depend on the international community to drive infrastructural developments in this country. We should be able to build basic earth-moving equipment like excavators and caterpillars. It’s not rocket science. Once Zeetin accomplishes that, it will create a ripple effect that will catalyse the rise of other industries.
“Furthermore, we welcome youths that are good in engineering and want us to fabricate their products. Zeetin will be an incubation hub for such talents to enhance their creative abilities.“
A complete tour of the factory famed as a cynosure of some sort, attracting hordes of visitors daily is a testament of Zeetin’s preparedness to make good of its declared intentions to advance Nigeria technologically.
For non-tech inclined persons, it’s easy to visualise some of the basic working principles behind cars, elevators among other machinery with home and office applications during a tour of the factory with Robert as the guide.
At the latter stages of the tour, a heavy downpour began beating the high roof of the building, a development that made Robert sound less audible. Surprisingly, he tirelessly seized the moment to resume work on the plasma cutting machine.
It rained cat and dogs at intervals with Robert suspending work whenever the rains abate to entertain questions. When asked if he ever takes a break from work, the billionaire CEO smiled and wittingly remarked that: “I will consider taking a break when I eventually make money like you.“
Beyond the repartee is the underlying truth that Robert is passionate about Zeetin which – as they say about passion-driven ventures – is bound to succeed.
“We have a lot of challenges. They are the challenges every other industry has in Nigeria like power, acquiring raw materials Et cetera. These challenges are not unique to us and a challenge faced by everyone is ultimately not a challenge. This leaves us with no excuse rather than to deliver.
“I don’t allow challenges to defeat me. Thus we are poised to surmount whatever challenges that come our way. More so, Zeetin is passion-driven. My advice to people is to do what they are passionate about.
For Robert, all roads in Zeetin’s passion-driven journey leads to building a powerful legacy. According to him, building structures that can stand the test of time should be one of the important purposes of life.
“Making money may last just a generation. Between making money and building a legacy I will always choose the latter. With legacy, I will be remembered as one who made effort to achieve what was a challenge for Nigeria to surmount.
“I’m advancing in age and may not take Nigeria to the pinnacle of technological revolution. However, I can be the catalyst to the revolution. That’s what I’m doing, and I cannot be tired.
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