Infrastructure That Lasts: Creating Lasting Value by Redefining Project Delivery in Africa with Emeka Obiwulu

[00:00:00] You're listening to the Unlocking Africa Podcast.

[00:00:03] I am the founder of the Upshore Lab. I am deeply passionate about sustainable innovation, effective project delivery and technology-driven solutions that serve people and empower communities.

[00:00:17] So in Africa, I believe that we need to create inclusive tech ecosystems where even the smallest communities have access and power.

[00:00:26] I am quite optimistic. I see the investments in this space, in infrastructure and technology infrastructure, and I just really hope for more of it to get us to where we really should be as a country and as a continent.

[00:00:40] Stay tuned as we bring you inspiring people who are unlocking Africa's economic potential.

[00:00:47] You're listening to the Unlocking Africa Podcast with your host, Terser Adamu.

[00:00:54] Welcome to the Unlocking Africa Podcast, where we find inspirational people who are doing inspirational things to unlock Africa's economic potential.

[00:01:06] Today, we have Emeka Obiwulu, who is the founder and CEO of the Offshore Lab, which is an integrated service company focused on driving innovation and developing local capacity.

[00:01:20] Welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome to the podcast, Emeka. How are you?

[00:01:24] I'm very well, Terser. Thank you very much for having me.

[00:01:27] How's your week been so far?

[00:01:30] Eh, it's been all right, really. Just another week here out here in Lagos.

[00:01:35] The typical struggles and all of the opportunities that come on the flip side of that. So, so far, so good.

[00:01:42] So, hopefully we can brighten up your week with the conversation today. It's a conversation I'm looking forward to.

[00:01:48] So, before we get started, I was hoping you could introduce yourself and tell us a bit more about Emeka.

[00:01:56] Thank you very much again, Terser. And I am indeed looking forward to the conversation.

[00:02:01] I'm Emeka Obiwulu. I was born in the Old Anambra state in Southeast Nigeria.

[00:02:08] I am the second of five children. I've got two brothers and two sisters.

[00:02:13] And we grew up a closed-kneeds unit, you know, with the odd one, two years in between us.

[00:02:21] And we were basically raised by good parents who were teachers.

[00:02:25] And that just got instilled a lot of discipline and value of education from a very young age.

[00:02:31] And then growing up in a household that really valued education and community had this lasting impact on me.

[00:02:40] Fast forward to today, I'm married with two boys.

[00:02:44] And much of who I am today comes from yesterday's foundational experiences.

[00:02:50] Like you pointed out, I am the founder of the Offshore Lab.

[00:02:54] And I am deeply, deeply passionate about sustainable innovation, about effective project delivery and technology-driven solutions that genuinely serve people and empower communities.

[00:03:10] I've had so far, I'd say, in my own words, a fulfilling career in both onshore and offshore project delivery across a few continents.

[00:03:20] And working on projects that range from, I think, I've done a lot of energy infrastructure and more recently, a lot of community empowerment.

[00:03:29] These varied experiences shaped to a certain extent my understanding of how very impactful, well-thought-out projects can actually be in uplifting individuals as well as entire communities.

[00:03:45] You know, especially when people are empowered with and given the right tools and the knowledge, you know, to sustain, not just for survival, but to sustain them.

[00:03:56] My focus, my drive today is on transforming communities, African communities, you know, by empowering them with the tools and the skills that these communities need to drive.

[00:04:09] My work is a journey to fundamentally create enduring impacts and the offshore lab is a crucial part of that mission.

[00:04:17] You've given us great insights into your professional and personal life.

[00:04:22] You mentioned things such as discipline and education and your life is a journey, a journey that has led you to where you are now.

[00:04:29] So I was hoping you could share with us what actually led you to founding the offshore lab.

[00:04:35] You know, what was the vision behind the company?

[00:04:39] So primarily, fundamentally, the offshore lab was born out of my desire to tackle the high filial range of projects around, you know, Nigeria and Africa.

[00:04:51] You know, my journey started over two decades ago when I ventured into engineering and project delivery on a global scale.

[00:04:59] And working on diverse, large scale projects exposed me to, you know, strategic frameworks and advanced technologies.

[00:05:08] But through all that, my real passion was always to apply that knowledge, you know, back home in Nigeria because I saw immense potential here.

[00:05:18] But I also saw challenges, pressing challenges.

[00:05:21] And that's what inspired me to return and focus on unlocking what I can see that, you know, huge potential by creating local solutions that are tailored specifically to our own unique environment.

[00:05:36] You know, so we often have initiatives that could uplift communities and I see them fall apart due to the short term thinking, the lack of strategic project planning and the complete lack of, in most cases, local integration.

[00:05:51] You know, so with the offshore lab, I just set out to create this platform that was completely different.

[00:05:57] You know, on the one hand, you know, on the one hand, a platform that champions sustainable project delivery, the local prioritization, community involvement and that strong commitment to sustainable impact.

[00:06:11] You know, and we just had this vision to create this vehicle, on this other hand, that was empowered to deliver every level of a project or every phase and stage of a project so that we had our destiny in our own hands.

[00:06:26] So we had this one-stop shop.

[00:06:28] That's why we keep going about it being an integrated service company where we dealt with that we could deal efficiently with all the front end risk assessments, the design, you know,

[00:06:39] the front end stakeholder management and, you know, when we have that and very importantly, all of the work that's done to enshrine a sustainable design with sustainability embedded completely in that project.

[00:06:53] They find out benefits actualization, the beneficiaries and how we want to measure it.

[00:06:57] So we have that in-house and then we move to the implementation.

[00:07:01] And we also have under the same roof all of what you need from a solutions ecosystem to implement a project in that sense.

[00:07:09] So we have put the engineers, the construction managers, you know, the people who work on site, you know, the field engineers and the likes.

[00:07:17] And then the third prong of that is also having that vehicle that also has the ability to run all levels of benefits actualization, including the maintenance and sustainability of that project.

[00:07:30] So that is the different sort of vehicle we created.

[00:07:33] So our vision for TLO is simple, but it's quite ambitious if you listen to it.

[00:07:37] And it is to be a leading force for technology-driven social change all across Africa, making communities, you know, not just recipients or beneficiaries, but active participants.

[00:07:50] Fantastic.

[00:07:52] From what you've said, it's clear that you're passionate about sustainable project delivery.

[00:07:57] You're also quite passionate about technology infrastructure.

[00:08:00] So I know you've had quite a long and varied career, but how has your global experience shaped your perspective on the role of, say, technology infrastructure in Africa's development?

[00:08:14] The most important lesson I can see, I've taken away from my time working and I actually try to propagate that when I do my mentorship and deal with people through our Genial Lab initiative.

[00:08:29] It's, I've learned that, or I learned that technology isn't a silver bullet by any means.

[00:08:35] You know, technology is supposed to be an enabler.

[00:08:38] So it's all about the context.

[00:08:41] It's all about, first of all, having the individuals who understand the context of their local problems, their unique problems, prior to applying those enablers like technology.

[00:08:52] You know, so the magic really happens when technology is adapted to or for local needs and realities.

[00:09:01] You know, so in Africa, I look at it and I believe that we need to create inclusive tech ecosystems, you know, where even the smallest communities have access and are empowered.

[00:09:12] So really, my global experience has showed me the power of inclusive tech.

[00:09:18] And that's the kind of essence that we bring to every project that we deliver at the offshore lab, every initiative that we create, every, you know, we set every group step, outreaches, hackathons, whatever we bring in.

[00:09:34] We try to enshrine that first element of understanding that technology in this context should be an enabler.

[00:09:42] But we need these individuals who can think, print and make for tomorrow.

[00:09:48] And through that critical thinking, first and foremost, immersing themselves in the environment, understanding what those problems are before going forward to proper solutions for them with the enablers like we have, like tech.

[00:10:01] As you mentioned, technology is an enabler.

[00:10:04] So what role do you believe technology can play in enabling your commitment to, I guess, something we've discussed in the past in abandoning that short-termism in African project delivery?

[00:10:18] A lot.

[00:10:19] So I look at technology as kind of like building roads, if you put it that way.

[00:10:26] And this time, if you think of it that way, think of it like digital roads, you know.

[00:10:31] So I think it's very important, you know, as a country and as a continent that we invest in technology for the huge roles that it plays.

[00:10:42] And it will play for our future, you know, walking ourselves from the position that we are.

[00:10:46] When we invest in technology, like we try to, at the offshore lab, you know, put a lot of emphasis on it, in what we believe the catalysts can be to liberating and empowering communities.

[00:10:59] What you're really doing is that you're creating pathways to these critical elements of education, healthcare, commerce, you know, and the route for good governance to reach the typically underserved demographics.

[00:11:14] You know, so you have lots of examples where, for instance, with junior lab, where we literally say we're growing STEM from the grassroots, which is democratizing STEM, tech, tech, and STEM education, and taking it to these areas that are typically the rest of the conversation.

[00:11:31] So what you end up having is growing a group of individuals who take leadership or who become leaders of thought in our typical problems in Nigeria of agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and digital innovation.

[00:11:48] So it has that huge role to play.

[00:11:50] We have a responsibility to invest in it, technology, I mean, and these are the things it can actually need for national and continental development.

[00:11:59] So if we keep to the theme of investing in infrastructure technology, from your experience, how have you seen investing in technology infrastructure act as a catalyst for economic growth, whether it be in Nigeria or different parts of Africa?

[00:12:16] So an example, for instance, digital connectivity and how we can actually turn a local business into a global one.

[00:12:24] That's a typical example, right?

[00:12:26] If you look at our whole MassLow pyramid thing and look at survival for basics, we're trying to first and foremost feed ourselves.

[00:12:33] And if you look at your small-scale farmers and how their struggles with their product yield, their routes in markets, their perishables, ETC, and you use that analogy and you empower that farmer by putting technology in their hands, you have that exponential increase in all of those, right?

[00:12:53] Simply taking data of, oh, I've got these tomatoes out by March, I've got cassava in April, I've got this.

[00:13:00] And you have that data from that local farmer who previously was an asylum, and he has that published on the way, you have off-takers who have a huge demand for this, who have no disability for that farmer.

[00:13:12] That simple level of data management and advertising or putting it up on the website, on a web page, you know, has empowered that farmer to increase his potential for his yield, reduce the problems he'd have with perishing, perishable goods with the routes in market, because he has had off-takers taking it from the port even before they actually reached the graduation age.

[00:13:34] And this applies to a whole lot of sectors, despite my emphasis on agriculture.

[00:13:39] There's so many examples, particularly with the initiatives that we run.

[00:13:42] You know, at the moment, you know, you were talking about what's happening in the background.

[00:13:46] We're running a hackathon, which you know, like 4-sharp, you know, we're 12 public schools.

[00:13:51] They brought 12 public schools together, and we've broken down these subjects.

[00:13:55] We normally call them that four-way grid of agriculture, energy, you know, manufacturing, and digital innovation.

[00:14:01] We look at them as problems of strategic initial importance to the continent and to the country, and we develop people in that sense.

[00:14:09] Investing in that and investing in individuals, that is one assured group of empowerment for both Nigeria and for the continent as well.

[00:14:17] I guess it's clear for yourself, it's not just about impact, it's about long-term impact.

[00:14:23] So how do you go about ensuring that the projects that you do deliver have lasting social and economic value for the communities they serve?

[00:14:34] Very important.

[00:14:35] It's very, very important this question, Tessa.

[00:14:37] Thank you for that, because we do throw around the word sustainability quite a bit, and don't be collectively enough justice to wait on how often we use it.

[00:14:49] So when you look at projects where we started this conversation, the high rate of project failures, why we started the offshore lab, by providing a solution to it, we're saying the projects that we deliver, we start from the design phase to define those beneficiaries and what impact of the project actually means.

[00:15:10] Right?

[00:15:11] So we move away from celebrating the rebound cutting as the project.

[00:15:16] We actually define the metric as impact assessment.

[00:15:20] How many people, how many lives is this transforming?

[00:15:23] Who are the beneficiaries?

[00:15:25] How long is this happening?

[00:15:26] So when we build a robust design, that's the first thing that we do.

[00:15:30] The robust design that actually adapts to evolving social, environmental, and economic changes.

[00:15:36] It's to last through a period we regard as the design life cycle.

[00:15:42] Right?

[00:15:42] So if an asset is supposed to last for 10 years, 15 years, or 25 years, that design we're building has the fact we're advocating a financial model and a sustainability model that ensures that it survives and goes through those 10, 15, 25 years without interruption.

[00:16:00] And this project vehicle doesn't work away after the rebound is cut and after the cameras move away, but actually goes through that life cycle.

[00:16:08] So that robust planning is the first element of it.

[00:16:11] And then when we build a project, part of what we advocate as well is cross-sector collaboration, because we believe different parties are very specialized in doing different things.

[00:16:22] And when people bring in or these different parties bring in their strengths into projects, particularly empowerment projects for communities, the chances of success and ensuring that that value is delivered after the project is commissioned is a whole lot higher.

[00:16:38] So that collaboration between public sector, private sector, and the stakeholders or the beneficiary is something that we advocate strongly and we try to enshrine during the implementation phase of the project.

[00:16:51] So we think the government must create the right policies, but the private enterprises and the private sector then lend their framework, the transparency, how they actually built up all of their extra standards of creating procedures, their reporting structure to that project to actually give it that resilience or build that resilience around it.

[00:17:16] And then the third element of it, or the third leg of that is the involving stakeholders right from onset in implementation and delivery.

[00:17:26] So we then look at focusing on local capacity building and ensuring that things like infrastructure projects are not just delivered, but they are also maintained by skilled local talent.

[00:17:39] Because when we talk about local prioritization, there is no point in having, for instance, expats coming and deliver a project like a jokuta steel or a power plant or something similar.

[00:17:51] And then when they leave, we don't have the local talent to actually operate it or do anything with it.

[00:17:56] So they point at massive infrastructure investments like that.

[00:18:01] And they say, oh, the expertise to do it is non-existent.

[00:18:05] So we can't operate this huge investment.

[00:18:07] So that third part of it of ensuring that local prioritization and local capacity building being a critical success factor and part of implementation is a third part of our differentiators of coming into the project because we advocated right from onset.

[00:18:22] So these are things that we do or we propose and we advocate and we push for when we deliver projects to ensure the sustainability of these projects.

[00:18:33] Thank you for sharing that.

[00:18:34] I guess to achieve this is not easy.

[00:18:37] You slightly touched on this, but what are some of the biggest challenges faced in building these technology infrastructure or delivering these type of projects within Africa and Nigeria?

[00:18:50] So I think the elephants in the room, one of the most obvious ones for us always costs, you know, what they are for the ability and accessibility, you know.

[00:19:01] So you're always, whether it's from an MDA level, the country level, whatever it is, it's always that scarcity or you have too little forms chasing too much demand and too many projects and gaps to actually fill.

[00:19:17] So, you know, so that's a huge one that can't be understated at all, you know.

[00:19:23] And that's where what I spoke about before exploring or being flexible enough to explore different strategies, you know, by getting different stakeholders creatively to deliver this, you know, opens up that net of what is possible.

[00:19:40] So the affordability is huge. And then when you look at the accessibility, you know, I give the analogy of the pharma, things like education without reliable energy, for instance, you know, other things like internet access, digital literacy, you can't really fulfill that demand and that promise.

[00:20:03] You know, so we at COL, the Offshore Lab, we address these barriers, you know, by looking for how to bridge these gaps with technology, local innovation and training.

[00:20:15] I'll give you an example. If we said we wanted to reach remote communities and because they are typically on the set and upskill the homeless kids there in agro technology or digital innovation, one of the challenges we already face would be that facility where they exist is probably off-grid.

[00:20:38] You know, so you're talking about how do you even get these computers in there? How do you get the expertise to train them there? And people typically turn away because it becomes too difficult.

[00:20:50] But technology comes in there and solves that problem because by getting in just a little bit of the solar panels that builds in that facility, you can just get a space of lab and power that lab through the period that you need to run the training.

[00:21:03] So you already see the problem and what will typically discourage people from intervening in that space because of how high maintenance it seems to be.

[00:21:13] But a little bit of creative thinking and a little bit more investment in the required technology suddenly brings that place and expands the net to pull in that sort of area of intervention and powers that community completely.

[00:21:26] You know, so we create solutions that fit local context, you know, whether it means using solar powered computers or training or getting trainers in the locality over to any of our facilities, upscale them and get them back into those places that they live and allow them to be the ones who are then championing knowledge, transpiring that side.

[00:21:51] So local capacity development of the beneficiaries as well enshrined in our projects.

[00:21:58] Awesome, awesome. So I guess you've touched on this in terms of local capacity building being an advantage and also a challenge.

[00:22:06] So can you share some specific examples of how you integrate the community needs into project designs?

[00:22:15] Absolutely. I'll give you a typical example of the project we finished, I think it was the second quarter of this year.

[00:22:22] And that was the project sponsor of Shell Companies in Nigeria.

[00:22:27] We set out to build these hundreds of dicey centers across the country.

[00:22:30] And we're the contractors and we do the project delivery for that.

[00:22:33] So when I got to Boutier State, the first time I actually went there and visited the facility, I was met by the acute deforestation going on there, which I had, you know, academically.

[00:22:47] I just approached it academically.

[00:22:49] But when I actually experienced it firsthand, I didn't need a second take on exactly what we were going to propose that facility for.

[00:22:58] So the immediate demands that became clear, the deforestation and the existential climate change threat that we had in that part of that country,

[00:23:08] it was a no brainer that whatever technology we were enshrining in that hundred city center had to prioritize agrotech and climate tech.

[00:23:19] So at that point, we took in the local demands and the local problems.

[00:23:25] And we started creating the army of youth who could start understanding the context of that problem and start creating solutions for it.

[00:23:34] So one of the things we did in that sense was ask for a plot of land from the vice chancellor.

[00:23:40] And in that plot of land, we planted a thousand fruit bearing trees.

[00:23:44] Now, it wasn't just to plant the trees.

[00:23:46] You know, we set up a club called, an initiative called Campus Greenbelt.

[00:23:51] And what we did was obviously the way we always approach these things of taking two steps back was this is the problem we want to solve in this locality.

[00:24:00] But we want to make it sustainable and we want to make it scalable.

[00:24:04] So after we go from this part of State University, we want to see that this isn't just planting trees here,

[00:24:10] but we are creating and helping empower an army of green leaders who will take care of these trees in maturation.

[00:24:20] And in terms of scaling, we now it's Greenbelt in the sense that we are planting these across all of the universities in Nigeria.

[00:24:27] So we went beyond the Bachi State conversation to say this is a nationwide problem, you know,

[00:24:33] and actually a goal for gimmick problem as well.

[00:24:35] But for a nationwide context, let us get these tree planting thing, build the irrigation system,

[00:24:41] and set up these clubs within the universities, the Campus Greenbelt Club,

[00:24:45] and help them grow capacity, understanding, skill, and take ownership of this problem.

[00:24:53] They took ownership of the trees planted.

[00:24:56] They have each of the clusters of trees have unique owners.

[00:24:59] The students who you go and hold on to, they read it, they look after it, and if there are any issues,

[00:25:04] they go onto their database, take pictures, and report it.

[00:25:07] So this is you understanding the unique problems, and then you identify key stakeholders,

[00:25:12] in this case the youth, who you are aspiring to taking advantage, taking ownership of that there tomorrow,

[00:25:18] and integrating them into the project as stakeholders,

[00:25:22] who you build their capacity towards understanding the reality of this problem,

[00:25:27] and the criticality of the problem, and giving them the confidence,

[00:25:30] as the people who have that power, to solve that problem.

[00:25:33] And that's what we did with that initiative there.

[00:25:36] You know, so we tooled the ICT lab,

[00:25:40] we built an additional appendage in the Campus Greenbelt,

[00:25:43] the orchard with a thousand trees,

[00:25:45] and then we brought together, we catered this group of students,

[00:25:49] who we selected, who could then take ownership of this,

[00:25:51] and inspiring them to become those green leaders of tomorrow,

[00:25:55] who can solve their local problems,

[00:25:57] and hopefully expand that through the rest of the nation.

[00:26:00] This is great.

[00:26:01] I was hoping you could share more about how you approach developing

[00:26:08] and nurturing the next generation of,

[00:26:11] I guess I'd call them, design thinkers in Africa.

[00:26:15] Yes, so that's a very big thing for us.

[00:26:19] And when we look at that initiative that we actually set up,

[00:26:23] because it's one thing running things as both times for projects,

[00:26:27] but to give us that runway to express exactly what we want to achieve fully,

[00:26:33] we build our own in-house initiatives.

[00:26:35] So one of what we did in that sense of engineering the mindsets

[00:26:40] of tomorrow's leaders who take ownership and be creators and makers,

[00:26:45] is we set up the Junior Lab initiative.

[00:26:47] You know, that Junior Lab primarily is creating, making, taking ownership,

[00:26:55] and being leaders of thought in, first and foremost,

[00:26:59] those four areas I mentioned before.

[00:27:01] Right?

[00:27:01] So with this initiative, we're going in for, in two phases.

[00:27:07] First, we're going into these remote areas

[00:27:09] and looking at every local government as a node of empowerment.

[00:27:14] So within these local governments, we find clusters of disadvantaged demographics,

[00:27:19] things like motherless babies, you know, street boys,

[00:27:23] aggregated or put together on the roof that gives us a seamless entry route.

[00:27:28] So that's the approach we take.

[00:27:31] We have actually made some inroads, quite significant inroads, to be fair.

[00:27:36] We've run this for a year, and one of the first pilots we did

[00:27:39] was in Potakot River State.

[00:27:41] It's a home called Badamea Boys, home from Badamea Boys' home.

[00:27:47] And it's somewhere that it's River State.

[00:27:50] If you're familiar with it, you know, they go to the streets,

[00:27:52] they pick up these boys, they bring them to the homes,

[00:27:55] they give them hot meals, they put a roof over their heads,

[00:27:58] and then they go out and seek funding for their school fees.

[00:28:02] You know, so we looked at that as a sort of point that we needed,

[00:28:06] because they already brings these boys together and makes things easier for us

[00:28:09] because we have them under that seatbelt.

[00:28:11] So we have like 15 of them.

[00:28:13] So we then went in there, looked at the context.

[00:28:16] It's the oil producing hub of the country.

[00:28:19] You know, a lot of what is required around there is engineering,

[00:28:23] you know, a lot of challenges they have around the environment, ETC.

[00:28:26] So we built a curriculum around our understanding of where the boys

[00:28:31] currently wear or currently are,

[00:28:33] and then crafted a way to upskill them through one year of intense academic

[00:28:40] training with trainers who are fixed in that facility.

[00:28:44] So we did a one-year celebration of that, not celebration,

[00:28:47] but we did the one-year anniversary of the commissioning.

[00:28:51] We're subject matter experts, project sponsors,

[00:28:54] because we do that in partnership with companies like NNPC and Shell ETC,

[00:28:58] who bring the funding for the infrastructure.

[00:29:00] So they actually came there and saw boys who have never used computers in most

[00:29:04] cases, actually designing complex tools on software like SolidWorks,

[00:29:08] you know, and they drop an object, you drop your phone,

[00:29:11] you drop weather lights,

[00:29:12] and these boys start designing it and modeling it.

[00:29:15] Yeah.

[00:29:15] And everyone now started understanding all of what we've been talking about,

[00:29:20] applying or empowering young people in these demographics,

[00:29:25] in disadvantaged demographic,

[00:29:26] pulling them into the net of value for the country.

[00:29:29] So we started the second phase of that at Badamea Hall,

[00:29:34] and that second phase is now of skilling these individuals from the understanding of theory

[00:29:40] to the practical implementation.

[00:29:42] So anyone who's doing product design,

[00:29:44] because that's a manufacturing hall as far as we can understand,

[00:29:47] anyone who's doing product design,

[00:29:50] machining,

[00:29:51] forging,

[00:29:52] welding,

[00:29:52] now understands the implication of,

[00:29:55] I want to machine out two MMI,

[00:29:57] I want to design these things to this level of tolerance.

[00:29:59] So at the end of the second year,

[00:30:02] which we currently are on,

[00:30:03] we then want to see these boys who have moved within two years,

[00:30:07] drastically from that middle,

[00:30:09] to be leaders of thought,

[00:30:11] who understand problems from their own context,

[00:30:14] with all of the work we've done with critical thinking,

[00:30:17] and have the capacity to start designing,

[00:30:20] developing,

[00:30:21] and producing tools that solve these problems.

[00:30:23] You know,

[00:30:24] so that's all of manufacturing at Badamea Hall.

[00:30:27] We have started work in a place called Daisy Home,

[00:30:30] another home for previously homeless kids,

[00:30:32] and that's completely geared towards agrotechnology.

[00:30:36] So in the same way,

[00:30:37] the ICT lab is built in there,

[00:30:40] the curriculum designed for them,

[00:30:42] the connectivity,

[00:30:44] the computers,

[00:30:44] and the trainers.

[00:30:46] And then we have the experiment area,

[00:30:48] where we do the different things like hydroponics,

[00:30:51] soilless farming,

[00:30:52] ETC,

[00:30:53] and we give ourselves those number of years,

[00:30:55] to take them from the point zero-ish where they are,

[00:30:58] to a point where they become close to experts,

[00:31:00] that can solve local problems that are around them.

[00:31:03] Amazing,

[00:31:04] amazing.

[00:31:04] So this is a great initiative,

[00:31:06] and it clearly demonstrates how the Junior Lab project,

[00:31:11] contributes to creating future innovators and problems.

[00:31:14] But I was wondering,

[00:31:16] in what ways does the initiative contribute to, say,

[00:31:20] local job creation?

[00:31:22] Yeah,

[00:31:23] so every initiative we undertake at the offshore labs

[00:31:26] is geared towards local empowerment,

[00:31:28] and that includes job creation.

[00:31:30] So if you pick up what we talked about,

[00:31:33] Junior Lab now,

[00:31:34] we go into NYSC,

[00:31:36] right?

[00:31:36] And if we say we want to create a junior lab,

[00:31:40] in every local government,

[00:31:42] one of local LGA,

[00:31:43] one of what we're looking at there,

[00:31:45] is that in these 774 LGA,

[00:31:47] if we have,

[00:31:49] for our first base case,

[00:31:51] for instance,

[00:31:52] two trainers in there,

[00:31:53] we're already creating jobs for 774 times two trainers.

[00:31:56] So these trainers are trained,

[00:32:00] mentored,

[00:32:01] skilled up,

[00:32:01] continuous development,

[00:32:03] by the offshore lab in that sense.

[00:32:04] So from that,

[00:32:05] this simple example is already showing you how we enshrine it

[00:32:10] in each of these initiatives that we develop.

[00:32:13] So from a junior lab context,

[00:32:15] this is what we do.

[00:32:16] From a project implementation context,

[00:32:19] local prioritization for us already

[00:32:21] is local capacity building and employment innovation.

[00:32:24] So we're looking at the sustainability of the project

[00:32:27] has to be managed and implemented

[00:32:30] by individuals from that locality.

[00:32:33] So it's just the example of these failed dams

[00:32:36] and such like,

[00:32:37] by saying,

[00:32:38] if at the time of developing those dams,

[00:32:40] that you actually build the capacity

[00:32:43] of the individuals who have their families

[00:32:45] and themselves in that locality,

[00:32:47] the way they will take ownership of those dams

[00:32:50] and manage it,

[00:32:51] differ from people who sit very remotely

[00:32:53] and are not at risk of those things damaging.

[00:32:56] So that stakeholder buying becomes easier

[00:32:58] and the buying into maintaining a whole lot easier

[00:33:01] when you go in,

[00:33:02] build and develop the competent enough capacity

[00:33:05] during the implementation phase

[00:33:06] and empower them with the jobs that you create

[00:33:10] that entail the management of that facility.

[00:33:13] So whether it's our initiative

[00:33:14] or whether the projects that we deliver,

[00:33:16] we are very big on ensuring that jobs,

[00:33:20] local jobs are created

[00:33:22] to empower the individual

[00:33:23] and empower the community.

[00:33:25] Thank you for sharing that.

[00:33:27] I guess a big theme of our conversation today

[00:33:29] has been sustainability.

[00:33:31] And you and I know that an issue

[00:33:33] that we encounter

[00:33:34] in the sustainability of projects in Nigeria

[00:33:38] is that lack of, say, maintenance culture.

[00:33:41] So how do you go about instilling that culture

[00:33:44] of maintenance within project delivery

[00:33:47] with whether it's the young people

[00:33:49] that you're working with

[00:33:50] or the more established professionals in your field?

[00:33:54] So that's a very good question.

[00:33:56] And I totally agree with you.

[00:33:58] It's a huge, huge problem.

[00:34:01] And I don't want to call it bad culture,

[00:34:04] but as a lot of people in the business world

[00:34:08] will tell you culture will eat strategy

[00:34:10] for breakfast any day.

[00:34:12] So it doesn't matter that you acknowledge

[00:34:17] that this is,

[00:34:18] that it doesn't matter

[00:34:19] what fancy strategies you come in with.

[00:34:23] If you have that close to culture there,

[00:34:25] we have a big problem.

[00:34:26] And that maintenance thing.

[00:34:27] So if you look at it from that context,

[00:34:29] it's really a mindset thing for us.

[00:34:31] You know, so we,

[00:34:33] when we see that,

[00:34:34] we think of the solutions to solving that

[00:34:38] as being creative, you know,

[00:34:40] and being creative in the sense of

[00:34:42] having a new norm

[00:34:44] or a new relationship

[00:34:46] that has or is enshrined with the culture

[00:34:50] that is not a poor maintenance culture.

[00:34:53] And that's when we go back to things

[00:34:54] like this cross-sector collaboration.

[00:34:57] You know, so when you have

[00:34:58] private sector organizations

[00:35:00] who their existence depends on efficiency,

[00:35:05] it becomes very difficult

[00:35:06] to expose that private sector organization

[00:35:10] for as long as it's part of

[00:35:12] that sustainability

[00:35:13] and implementation of a project

[00:35:15] to the culture of efficiency.

[00:35:18] You know, so you then borrow

[00:35:19] or make the role

[00:35:20] or define the role

[00:35:22] of that entity

[00:35:23] in that cross-sector collaboration.

[00:35:25] Us driving everything

[00:35:28] from the maintenance systems,

[00:35:31] the repair and maintenance,

[00:35:32] the sustainability

[00:35:33] through that period.

[00:35:34] And you just borrow

[00:35:35] from the frameworks

[00:35:36] that exist by default

[00:35:38] of the existence

[00:35:39] of those private sector companies.

[00:35:41] You know, so building in sustainability

[00:35:43] from the world goal,

[00:35:45] from design,

[00:35:46] is number one.

[00:35:47] You have to account

[00:35:49] for all of the challenges

[00:35:51] you know you're going to encounter

[00:35:54] during that project.

[00:35:55] So if you look at your environment

[00:35:57] and say, oh, we have issues

[00:36:00] with, you know, corruption,

[00:36:02] for instance,

[00:36:03] that's an economic challenge

[00:36:05] and an economic issue.

[00:36:06] So you're building the resilience

[00:36:08] in the project for that.

[00:36:09] You know, we have issues

[00:36:10] with climate change.

[00:36:11] You're building the resilience

[00:36:13] for that.

[00:36:13] You have systems

[00:36:15] that you can actually forecast trends.

[00:36:18] You know, building

[00:36:18] the next 25 years,

[00:36:20] these are the possible trends

[00:36:22] and this is how I can build resilience

[00:36:23] for economic evolving,

[00:36:25] economic issues,

[00:36:27] environmental issues,

[00:36:28] climate issues,

[00:36:30] political issues.

[00:36:30] All of that get built in

[00:36:32] from that front end

[00:36:33] where you design

[00:36:34] and build a resilient

[00:36:36] project design.

[00:36:38] You know, so that's

[00:36:39] cross-sector collaboration,

[00:36:41] that's resilient design

[00:36:42] from onset,

[00:36:44] doing all that hard work

[00:36:45] from onset.

[00:36:46] And the third thing

[00:36:46] I've said a few times already,

[00:36:48] which I'm a very big proponent

[00:36:49] and advocate of,

[00:36:50] is embracing

[00:36:52] and engaging

[00:36:53] local capacity

[00:36:54] through every stage

[00:36:55] of the project.

[00:36:56] I think when you do

[00:36:57] these three things,

[00:36:58] you build that resilience

[00:37:00] that we talk about

[00:37:01] that enshrines

[00:37:02] a culture

[00:37:03] of sustainability,

[00:37:05] you know,

[00:37:06] way long after

[00:37:07] the commissioning

[00:37:08] of the project

[00:37:09] has been completed.

[00:37:10] Thank you for that.

[00:37:11] I totally agree

[00:37:12] and understand

[00:37:13] the building

[00:37:15] in the resilience,

[00:37:16] but I was going to ask

[00:37:17] from your professional

[00:37:18] experience,

[00:37:19] why do you think

[00:37:20] that maintenance culture

[00:37:21] has often been

[00:37:23] lacking in the past?

[00:37:25] So,

[00:37:26] I think

[00:37:27] for us,

[00:37:28] it's really a case of

[00:37:30] we have to look

[00:37:31] at projects differently.

[00:37:32] We have to abandon

[00:37:34] completely that approach

[00:37:35] to a project

[00:37:36] is,

[00:37:37] the life cycle

[00:37:38] of a project

[00:37:39] is initiated,

[00:37:40] implemented,

[00:37:41] commission it

[00:37:42] and work it with.

[00:37:43] And when you do

[00:37:44] work it with

[00:37:45] the project

[00:37:47] implementation vehicle,

[00:37:49] the project

[00:37:49] becomes an offer

[00:37:50] that's subject

[00:37:51] to whatever

[00:37:51] and if it fails,

[00:37:53] as most of them do,

[00:37:55] there's no remediation

[00:37:56] and then it gets

[00:37:57] revisited too.

[00:37:58] So,

[00:37:58] that approach

[00:37:59] is something

[00:38:00] that we think

[00:38:01] is hugely responsible,

[00:38:02] the short-term

[00:38:03] approach to projects,

[00:38:04] it's hugely responsible

[00:38:05] for a lot of

[00:38:06] project failures.

[00:38:07] Changing that approach,

[00:38:08] changing that mindset

[00:38:10] and changing that culture

[00:38:11] will,

[00:38:12] as far as we're concerned

[00:38:14] and as far as we believe,

[00:38:16] will catalyze

[00:38:18] delivery of

[00:38:19] sustainable projects.

[00:38:21] And there are instances,

[00:38:22] a lot of them,

[00:38:23] where you see

[00:38:24] where that changing mindset

[00:38:25] where people plan,

[00:38:27] think of projects

[00:38:28] beyond

[00:38:29] the commissioning dates

[00:38:32] and think of it

[00:38:33] through the life cycle

[00:38:34] of the project

[00:38:35] and building

[00:38:36] all of those

[00:38:37] necessary frameworks

[00:38:38] that ensure

[00:38:39] sustainability.

[00:38:40] The project has

[00:38:41] very high chances

[00:38:43] of success

[00:38:43] and that actually

[00:38:45] has to come

[00:38:45] happen at the

[00:38:46] planning stage.

[00:38:47] I agree,

[00:38:48] we definitely need

[00:38:48] to change

[00:38:49] that short-term

[00:38:50] approach for the future.

[00:38:52] So,

[00:38:52] if you look at the future,

[00:38:54] how do you see

[00:38:54] the investing

[00:38:56] in technology

[00:38:57] infrastructure

[00:38:58] developing in Africa,

[00:39:00] say,

[00:39:00] over the next

[00:39:01] five years?

[00:39:03] I think I am

[00:39:04] quite optimistic,

[00:39:05] to be honest.

[00:39:06] Over the next

[00:39:07] five years,

[00:39:08] I see

[00:39:09] more integrated,

[00:39:12] community-driven

[00:39:13] approaches

[00:39:13] to technology

[00:39:14] infrastructure.

[00:39:16] I see

[00:39:18] movement,

[00:39:19] you know,

[00:39:20] in the right

[00:39:21] direction.

[00:39:22] We talked about

[00:39:22] how even

[00:39:24] the technology

[00:39:24] itself,

[00:39:25] being an enabler,

[00:39:26] needs certain

[00:39:27] enablers.

[00:39:28] You know,

[00:39:28] we talked about

[00:39:29] power infrastructure.

[00:39:30] We talked about

[00:39:31] how

[00:39:33] a gap in that

[00:39:34] cripples

[00:39:36] the opportunities

[00:39:37] for technology.

[00:39:38] So,

[00:39:38] when I say

[00:39:39] I see movement

[00:39:40] and positive

[00:39:40] signs in that,

[00:39:41] an example is

[00:39:42] Mission 300,

[00:39:44] where the World Bank,

[00:39:45] African Development Bank,

[00:39:46] and a few other

[00:39:47] stakeholders

[00:39:47] are trying to

[00:39:48] provide,

[00:39:49] by 2030,

[00:39:52] electrification

[00:39:52] to 300 million

[00:39:54] Africans.

[00:39:55] You know,

[00:39:56] we already have

[00:39:57] that gap

[00:39:57] that 600 million

[00:39:59] Africans have

[00:39:59] no access

[00:40:00] to electricity,

[00:40:01] and that's

[00:40:01] 83% of the

[00:40:02] world's

[00:40:03] un-electrified.

[00:40:04] And that's

[00:40:04] a huge number

[00:40:05] and a very

[00:40:06] disturbing number.

[00:40:07] And you can

[00:40:07] already see

[00:40:08] how that

[00:40:09] cripples a lot

[00:40:09] of the

[00:40:10] conversations

[00:40:10] that we're

[00:40:11] having today.

[00:40:12] But when

[00:40:12] you say

[00:40:13] you're being

[00:40:13] optimistic,

[00:40:14] you're actually

[00:40:14] seeing the

[00:40:15] inroads being

[00:40:16] made by

[00:40:17] these large

[00:40:18] organizations

[00:40:18] to solve

[00:40:20] some of

[00:40:20] these fundamental

[00:40:21] problems.

[00:40:22] So,

[00:40:23] if you look

[00:40:23] at that

[00:40:23] potential

[00:40:24] for an

[00:40:26] initiative

[00:40:27] like that

[00:40:27] Mission 300

[00:40:28] being successful

[00:40:29] by 2030,

[00:40:30] that's a

[00:40:30] huge catalyst.

[00:40:32] That's a

[00:40:32] huge catalyst

[00:40:33] for infrastructure,

[00:40:34] huge catalyst

[00:40:35] for technology,

[00:40:36] huge catalyst

[00:40:37] for education

[00:40:37] and everything

[00:40:38] that comes

[00:40:39] with it.

[00:40:40] You know,

[00:40:40] so I am

[00:40:41] quietly optimistic,

[00:40:42] like I said,

[00:40:43] and I see

[00:40:45] already the

[00:40:46] investments

[00:40:46] in this space,

[00:40:48] you know,

[00:40:48] in infrastructure

[00:40:49] and technology

[00:40:50] infrastructure,

[00:40:51] and I just

[00:40:52] really hope

[00:40:52] for more

[00:40:54] of it,

[00:40:54] you know,

[00:40:55] to get us

[00:40:55] to where we

[00:40:56] really should be

[00:40:57] as a country

[00:40:57] and as a

[00:40:58] continent.

[00:40:58] So,

[00:40:59] looking closer

[00:41:00] to home,

[00:41:00] how do you

[00:41:01] see the

[00:41:02] offshore labs

[00:41:03] contributing

[00:41:04] to Africa's

[00:41:05] progress in

[00:41:06] technology

[00:41:07] and sustainable

[00:41:08] development

[00:41:09] over the

[00:41:10] next five

[00:41:10] years?

[00:41:11] Good question.

[00:41:13] Good question,

[00:41:14] Therese.

[00:41:14] So,

[00:41:14] we already

[00:41:15] have a few

[00:41:16] initiatives,

[00:41:17] ambitious

[00:41:17] initiatives

[00:41:18] running.

[00:41:18] So,

[00:41:19] first and

[00:41:19] foremost,

[00:41:20] we plan

[00:41:21] to scale

[00:41:22] our initiatives

[00:41:22] to reach

[00:41:23] more communities.

[00:41:24] for the

[00:41:25] ones that

[00:41:25] we have

[00:41:26] and we

[00:41:26] intend to

[00:41:27] spread

[00:41:27] through all

[00:41:27] the local

[00:41:28] governments

[00:41:28] in Nigeria,

[00:41:29] we want

[00:41:30] to turn

[00:41:30] every local

[00:41:31] government

[00:41:31] area into

[00:41:32] a node

[00:41:33] of

[00:41:33] transformation.

[00:41:34] You know,

[00:41:34] our goal

[00:41:35] is to create

[00:41:36] a continent-wide

[00:41:37] network of

[00:41:38] empowered

[00:41:39] individuals

[00:41:39] and communities

[00:41:41] who are

[00:41:42] actively using

[00:41:43] technology

[00:41:43] to solve

[00:41:44] their unique

[00:41:44] challenges

[00:41:45] and by

[00:41:47] extension

[00:41:47] contributing

[00:41:48] to a more

[00:41:49] sustainable

[00:41:50] Africa.

[00:41:51] Awesome,

[00:41:52] awesome,

[00:41:52] awesome.

[00:41:54] So,

[00:41:54] as we're

[00:41:55] coming to

[00:41:55] the end

[00:41:55] of today's

[00:41:56] conversation,

[00:41:57] got one

[00:41:57] last question.

[00:42:00] As people,

[00:42:01] we often have

[00:42:02] quotes,

[00:42:02] mantras,

[00:42:03] African

[00:42:03] proverbs

[00:42:04] or affirmations

[00:42:05] that keep us

[00:42:05] going when

[00:42:06] times are

[00:42:07] challenging

[00:42:07] or when

[00:42:08] times are

[00:42:08] good.

[00:42:09] Do you

[00:42:09] have one

[00:42:10] that you

[00:42:10] can share

[00:42:10] with us

[00:42:11] today?

[00:42:12] Yeah,

[00:42:13] so I'd

[00:42:14] share one.

[00:42:15] Say,

[00:42:16] a tree

[00:42:16] cannot stand

[00:42:17] without

[00:42:17] its roots.

[00:42:18] So,

[00:42:19] when we

[00:42:19] talk about

[00:42:20] community,

[00:42:21] when we

[00:42:21] talk about

[00:42:22] sustainability,

[00:42:24] the depth

[00:42:25] of whatever

[00:42:25] conversation

[00:42:26] you're having,

[00:42:27] we look

[00:42:28] at what

[00:42:29] we're doing

[00:42:30] as growing

[00:42:32] seeds right

[00:42:33] from the

[00:42:33] roots,

[00:42:34] growing trees

[00:42:35] right from

[00:42:36] the roots

[00:42:36] there.

[00:42:37] We look

[00:42:37] at our

[00:42:38] junior

[00:42:39] labs

[00:42:39] logger

[00:42:40] and we

[00:42:40] call it

[00:42:40] growing

[00:42:40] stem from

[00:42:41] the

[00:42:41] grassroots

[00:42:42] for instance.

[00:42:43] That borrows

[00:42:44] from this

[00:42:44] tree,

[00:42:45] it can't

[00:42:45] stand without

[00:42:45] its roots.

[00:42:46] So,

[00:42:47] we're

[00:42:47] looking at

[00:42:47] the depth

[00:42:49] of how

[00:42:49] we implement

[00:42:50] what we

[00:42:50] implement

[00:42:50] because we

[00:42:51] want these

[00:42:52] trees

[00:42:52] standing

[00:42:52] strong.

[00:42:53] So,

[00:42:53] we don't

[00:42:53] look at

[00:42:54] projects,

[00:42:54] for instance,

[00:42:55] as building

[00:42:56] an infrastructure.

[00:42:57] We look

[00:42:58] at it as

[00:42:58] planting a

[00:42:59] seed and

[00:43:00] ultimately

[00:43:00] from the

[00:43:01] depth

[00:43:01] growing that

[00:43:02] tree from

[00:43:02] the seed.

[00:43:03] So,

[00:43:03] it becomes

[00:43:04] this huge,

[00:43:05] strong,

[00:43:06] sustainable

[00:43:07] part of

[00:43:08] our

[00:43:08] landscape

[00:43:09] that provides

[00:43:10] shelter and

[00:43:11] everything else

[00:43:12] that comes

[00:43:16] fitting and

[00:43:17] definitely

[00:43:17] in line

[00:43:18] with the

[00:43:18] great work

[00:43:19] that you're

[00:43:19] doing,

[00:43:20] both

[00:43:20] professionally

[00:43:21] or in

[00:43:22] the

[00:43:22] private

[00:43:23] sector

[00:43:23] and also

[00:43:23] the

[00:43:24] community

[00:43:24] social

[00:43:25] initiatives

[00:43:26] that you

[00:43:26] have as

[00:43:26] well.

[00:43:27] It's been

[00:43:28] a great

[00:43:28] conversation,

[00:43:29] very

[00:43:30] enlightening.

[00:43:30] It's great

[00:43:31] to hear

[00:43:32] about the

[00:43:33] work that

[00:43:33] you're

[00:43:33] doing,

[00:43:34] how you're

[00:43:35] trying to

[00:43:35] reshape

[00:43:36] the narrative

[00:43:36] of project

[00:43:38] delivery

[00:43:39] within

[00:43:39] Nigeria

[00:43:40] and Africa

[00:43:40] and also

[00:43:41] your plans

[00:43:43] for the

[00:43:43] future.

[00:43:43] So,

[00:43:44] absolute

[00:43:44] pleasure

[00:43:45] having you

[00:43:45] on the

[00:43:45] podcast

[00:43:46] today,

[00:43:46] absolute

[00:43:46] pleasure

[00:43:47] having this

[00:43:47] conversation

[00:43:48] with you

[00:43:48] as well.

[00:43:49] Thank you

[00:43:50] very,

[00:43:50] very much

[00:43:50] Tessa

[00:43:51] and hope

[00:43:53] to speak

[00:43:53] to you

[00:43:53] again

[00:43:54] sometime

[00:43:54] soon.

[00:43:55] We

[00:43:55] definitely

[00:43:55] will.

[00:43:56] Keep

[00:43:56] in touch

[00:43:56] and we

[00:43:57] will

[00:43:57] speak

[00:43:57] soon.

[00:43:58] Thank

[00:43:58] you,

[00:43:59] thanks for

[00:43:59] having me

[00:43:59] once again.

[00:44:01] Thank

[00:44:02] you to

[00:44:02] everyone who

[00:44:03] has listened

[00:44:03] and stayed

[00:44:04] tuned to

[00:44:04] the podcast.

[00:44:05] If you've

[00:44:06] enjoyed this

[00:44:06] episode,

[00:44:07] please

[00:44:07] subscribe,

[00:44:08] share or

[00:44:09] tell a

[00:44:09] friend about

[00:44:10] it.

[00:44:10] You can

[00:44:11] also rate,

[00:44:11] review us

[00:44:12] in Apple

[00:44:12] Podcasts

[00:44:13] or wherever

[00:44:14] you download

[00:44:15] your podcast.

[00:44:16] Thank you

[00:44:17] and see you

[00:44:17] next week

[00:44:18] for the

[00:44:19] Unlocking

[00:44:20] Africa

[00:44:20] podcast.