Persianas Group, a co-investor of Ketron Investment Limited, has entered an agreement with the Edo State Government for the development and construction of a Shoprite outlet in Benin City, the Edo State capital. The announcement was made during a press briefing on Tuesday, September 21, 2021.
The briefing had in attendance, respected members of the press, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the Chairman of Ketron Investment Nigeria Limited, Mr Tayo Amusan, amongst other dignitaries.
According to Amusan, the expansion signals the company’s commitment to its mission and vision for Shoprite in Nigeria. “We are excited to bring Shoprite to Edo State. More importantly, the willingness of this state to see the establishment of a new shopping outlet fills us with more optimism as we work towards contributing to the growth and development of this state,” he said.
“Rest assured, we will ensure the establishment of a novel and elevated shopping experience for the people of Edo. It will be characterised by cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art infrastructure, and of course a source of gainful employment for many of the people of Edo State.” he concluded.
Tayo Amusan also confirmed transformation plans for the headquarters of the State Library located in the proposed location of the new mall. He stated that, “as part of the conditions agreed with the Edo State Government, a new library will be constructed within the premises of the new mall. This will ensure that Edo residents, who frequent the facility, enjoy a conducive and enabling environment for learning.”
The Edo State Government’s enthusiasm represents a welcome development for Amusan, who expressed satisfaction with regards to the developmental strides of the Obaseki-led administration while commending the governor for prioritizing the welfare, development, and elevation of the livelihoods of the Edo people.
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, while addressing journalists after signing the agreement for the Benin mall project, said the project is coming after 12 years of failed attempts. Obaseki stated that the goal of his administration is to ensure that Benin City has all the features of a modern smart city while stimulating the economy.
According to him, “Our struggle to bring Shoprite or a major mall experience to Edo State has been on for more than a decade.
“There have been several attempts and one of the promises I made during my electioneering was that before leaving office, I was going to make Edo like modern cities in the world, making Edo people experience a retail shopping mall in the state.”
The Edo State governor also lauded Amusan, commending him for his commitment to stimulating investment into the state.
“We are pleased with our partners, Persianas Group. We thank the chairman, whose company built the first mall to house the first Shoprite store in Nigeria. For our administration, it’s all about partnerships. This is what we call a classic public-private partnership between the government and the private sector,” he said.
Since launching in December 2005, Shoprite Nigeria has established about 25 retail stores across Nigeria, choosing to focus on major commercial cities. The management’s plans to expand the outlets to Benin is a welcome development, as the company seeks to penetrate more cities, create more opportunities, and drive an entire distribution of benefits across the value chain, as part of its growth strategy.
