RUFTECH: “I Built Industry To Make Impact, Create Jobs, Make Statement To Our Brothers In Diaspora That Abia Is Safe For Investments” – Charles Nwangwa

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ruftech Aluminum Industries Ltd, Chief Lawrence Charles Nwangwa, popularly called Akajiugo has defied all odds to set up an aluminum industry in Abia mainly to make impact by creating employment opportunities to touch the lives of people.

After trying his hands in politics severally, and doing things privately for people to uplift them, the Akajiugo of Ngwa land, decided to do something that will touch the lives of people generally by creating employment chances for Abians.

Speaking to All Facts Team in his industrial base office, Aba, Abia state, Chief Nwangwa said that  when friends were buying Rolls Royce and Bentley cars, he said that if he followed suit, it will amounts to self-edification, so he decided to set up an industry that will not only give people employment, but will give them an opportunity to create their own wealth.

How it all started.

“When I asked for the price of machines for industries, properties, architects etc and they told me, I felt that the money one will use to buy two good cars, is the same money he  will use to make an impact forever.

“The industry I have set up will create more than five hundred jobs, because you will have people that will from here produce other things because this aluminum has no waste, neither does it perish. The smallest particle can also be used to produce other accessories for the industry. After all considerations, I said that I would embark on it which was why I came up with this industry. As of today, because I embarked on it quietly, people did not know what I was doing, I first paid for the machines, raw materials to start off, built this place before I let people know what is happening.

What were your experiences?

“Today, through personal sacrifice we have gotten to this stage. When I wanted to start, people asked me a lot of questions and started listing the things I should ensure that must be in place before I could start. They were so scarring, but I never allowed any of those things to discourage me. But I was bent on doing my industry to employ people.

 Did you consider security?

“When others are running away because of insecurity, I did it to create jobs and to make a statement to our brothers in diaspora that Abia is safe for investments. We have pockets of disturbances, but it is not as bad as they paint it. I stopped using escort and security in 2011 and since then I go within my Local Government anytime and and I have never had any incident. I give glory to God.

What makes your product outstanding?

“On the products that we are expected to do, we will do roof corrugation, all types and gauges for the roof, we have the step tile, metrocopo and long span, including the one they call Cameroun zinc and short span, for those who can’t afford the other ones. The ones local people are using, instead of buying iron sheet types which after sometime get rusted. We will also produce stone coated tiles, shingles etc . We will have galvanized roofing nails and other accessories. We want to make this place a ONE STOP roofing and aluminium industry.

Employment Opportunities.

“Directly, the minimum number that will work here will not be less than 100 people, from Obikabia junction, all the lands will be taken up because when you buy the long span roofing sheets, you will also buy the accessories to go with it.  We have four machines and each one needs like three to four operators at any point in time. We have the Generator that will power the industry etcs.

What do you want to achieve  ?

“As a critique, I want to set example, our gauges are unique, our quality is exemplary, we have colors and our elegance is outstanding. We are going to give quality products. In Aba, our products cannot be compared with any other here in the east of the Niger. We can compete with any other product internationally”.