Chinese granted title of chief in Nigeria

Managing Director of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) in Nigeria Li Qingyong has been honored with a chieftain title in Lagos, the country's commercial hub.

Li was on Saturday announced as the "Bobasona of Ikorodu Land" (Royal Road Builder) by one of the prominent traditional rulers in Nigeria, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, at a colorful ceremony attended by dignitaries.

The Ikorodu monarch said the decision to make the CCECC director a chief in Ikorodu, one of the largest industrial area in West Africa if not in Africa, was not difficult, owing to his contribution to the development of the division.

The town is bounded on the south by the Lagoon. In the north, Ikorodu shares a common boundary with Ogun State.

He said the chieftain title was in recognition of CCECC's accomplishments and tremendous contribution toward the construction of Ikorodu road.

In November 2014, CCECC finished the construction of a 12 kilometers expressway linking Lagos to the local community in Ikorodu.

In his acceptance speech, Li Qingyong said CCECC will continue to fulfill social responsibility as a foreign entity in Nigeria to better melt into the country where it has future.

He said the company would continue to give employment to thousands of people in Nigeria, aside the transfer of technology to those who would be involved in the execution of various project in the country.

Others also given chieftain titles were speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa and wife, who were made Sobaloju and Yeye Sobaloju of Ikorodu land respectively; Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos was made the Baba Oba of Ikorodu land by the Ikorodu monarch.

The event which was held at the Banquet hall of the Palace attracted eminent personalities. Endit