I Guided Azikel Refinery's Eruani from Humble Beginnings to Business Success — Patience Jonathan

Patience Jonathan, the wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has affectionately referred to Dr Azibapu Eruani, the Group President of Azikel Group, as a "small boy" whom she nurtured and guided to become one of Nigeria's most prominent businessmen.

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According to her, her mentorship played a significant role in his bold foray into the business world at a relatively young age, a claim she made during an inspection tour of the Azikel Refinery in Obunagha, Bayelsa State, on Tuesday, in a video that went viral on Thursday.

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During the tour, which was attended by other dignitaries, the former First Lady revealed that she personally introduced Eruani to prominent billionaire businessmen, including Aliko Dangote and Aminu Dantata, and encouraged him to strive to reach their level despite being the youngest among them.

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She fondly recalled Eruani's determination to succeed, saying "He's a boy that I brought up, we are always together, although he's the little one among us when we are friends — Dangote, Seyi, Dantata, Eruani — among us, he's the smallest.

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Patience Jonathan also shared a conversation she had with Eruani, where she advised him to learn from the likes of Dangote and Dantata, and prayed for his success, saying "I made sure I told this small boy, 'Go and follow them, and stop the grammar,' but when he told me that one day he would be like Dangote, I said, 'You're thinking too high,' I prayed to God to grant him his heart's desire.

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The former First Lady further recounted how the immediate past APC administration, under Muhammadu Buhari, initially denied Eruani a refinery licence before eventually approving three, saying "During the Buhari administration, he and others came to me and told me they were going to apply for a refinery.

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She expressed her initial skepticism, stating "I told him, 'Eruani, your brother, the President, did not give you a refinery, is it the APC government that will give you one?' I prayed it would happen.

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However, her skepticism was proven wrong, as she later said "But later, they came back and told me they had been given three refineries."

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The inspection tour coincided with the arrival of the refinery's Crude Distillation Unit, marking a significant milestone in the development of the $1bn facility, which is designed to process condensate into petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and other products.

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The refinery, a 25,000 barrels-per-day plant, is set to become Nigeria's second-largest full-slate refinery and the first major privately owned refinery in the Niger Delta, producing a range of products.

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Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, who joined the inspection tour, commended Eruani for his perseverance, having attended the project's groundbreaking ceremony eight years ago.

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Ogbuku described the refinery as an inspiration and a potential catalyst for investment, job creation, and economic growth in Bayelsa State, urging residents, particularly youths, to take advantage of the opportunities it would create.

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He also praised the Bayelsa State Government for improving road infrastructure leading to the refinery site and called for continued support for the project, which is expected to employ hundreds of workers and drive industrialisation in the state.

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Other dignitaries at the event included Governor Douye Diri's representative, Peter Akpe, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Vice President of Azikel Group, Presley Asemota, and Isaac Yalah, among others.