By Ugo Okoro
Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom, His Eminence Engr. Dr. Ebechukwwu Oji, has extended a formal invitation to the Dangote Group to explore the business opportunities that abound in the South East region of the country, especially the Joint Economic Development Zone (JEDZ) shared by Abia, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
The first class monarch extended the invitation to the Dangote Group on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, during a visit of the Arochukwu Business Leaders Forum (ABLF) to the largest single-train refinery in the world, which is located in the Lekki axis of Lagos State.
Warmly received by the leadership of the Refinery, His Eminence, on behalf of the Royal Palace, conferred on the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, an “Honourary Membership of Arochukwu Kingdom”.
He also extended the same royal privilege to the Executive Director of the Group, Mr. Edwin Deyvekumar.
“This honour is in recognition of their outstanding contributions to industrial development, enterprise, job creation, and nation-building, Eze Eberechukwu Oji said, adding:
“The formal investiture ceremony will be performed at a future date at the Kingdom.”
On his assessment of the visit, His Eminence said: “Today was far more than a facility tour. It was an encounter with possibility. We witnessed firsthand what can happen when vision is pursued with courage, discipline, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the future.
“Standing within the largest single-train refinery in the world, we were reminded that transformational development begins with a dream that many may consider impossible, but which becomes reality through commitment and perseverance.
“As Aros, this visit holds special significance. Our forefathers built a civilization renowned for commerce, enterprise, diplomacy, and strategic partnerships. That spirit remains alive today as we seek to position Arochukwu for a future of investment, innovation, industrial growth, and shared prosperity.
“One observation that particularly stood out was the remarkable sense of ownership demonstrated by the staff. Everywhere we went, we heard the words “we,” “our,” and “us” as they spoke about the vision of Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the refinery. It reflected a culture where people do not merely work for an organization but genuinely believe in its mission.
“We congratulate Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the entire Dangote Group for building a world-class industrial asset that is reshaping Nigeria’s economic future and inspiring Africans everywhere to think bigger.”
