News
How Lubcon Became Official Lubricant Blender for Yamaha-Williams
The appointment of Lubcon International, Nigeria’s fast rising pan Africa lube manufacturing firm, by JX NIPPON, one of the biggest oil and gas companies in Japan to blend its Yamalube brand on its behalf for the Yamaha Motorcycles and outboard motors being assembled in Nigeria two years ago, was a rare feet yet to be accomplished by any indigenous lubricant firms in the country.
Speaking at the grand opening of the Yamaha Showroom and Assembly Plant in Apapa, Lagos, recently, Mr Taiye Williams, managing director of Lubcon International, disclosed that Lubcon was chosen after rigorous laboratory standards quality certification audits were carried out on all the samples submitted by local lube blenders that expressed interest.
”Out of all the lube manufacturing firms that bided for this offer, Lubcon was adjudged the best in terms of meeting the required standards. Though we are approved to blend, JX Nippon provides the plant certification; it is not something that is given to you and you think it stops at that. There is a regular audit; they come annually on a regular visit to check if we are still maintaining the required standards.
”Lubcon is an ISO certified company which implies that we also go through regular internal and external audits of our management and quality system. All these assist us to maintain the quality that is required in order to meet the standards that Yamaha requires. Our aim is to improve on this partnership and we are very determined to ensure that we keep improving”, Williams assured.
The appointment of Lubcon is a confidence show on the local capacity and in line with the Federal Government’s policy on local content inclusion as required by the enabling law guiding direct foreign investments in Nigeria.
Williams explained further that his organisation has adopted the principle of continuous improvement to raise its standards; this, he said, is giving Lubcon the leading edge against competition.
“We have up to 350 products that are being blended in our plant across our key markets in Africa. Our flagship product which is adrenalin is a 20w50 multi-grade. Many now have appreciated our synthetic lubes which is the first to be produced in this country which is known as the Rugged Series. We have the Rugged Elite and Rugged 4 by 4. We are positioned to provide the desired lubricants that would make the country’s machinery run”, he emphasised.
The new CFAO Yamaha Showroom and Assembly Plant was declared open by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the Executive Governor of Lagos State.
Governor Ambode stated at the occasion that the collaboration between CFAO and Yamaha to establish the plant is good news to Lagos. “With over 60% of Nigeria’s industry capacity located in Lagos, and a policy thrust that encourages good returns on investments, good security and infrastructure provision, Lagos will remain the most attractive location for investments”, Governor Akinwunmi said.
During the tour of the plant, Mr. Taiye Williams, managing director of Lubcon International, presented a pack of Yamalube, the special lubricant oil brand (being produced by Lubcon for JX Nippon, the lube blending arm of Yamaha Group), to the Special Guest of Honor, Governor Ambode and the visiting President and CEO of Yamaha Motor Corporation, Japan, Mr. Hiroyuki Yanagi
Other guests at the occasion include: Richard Bielle, chairman of the Management Board, CFAO Group, Paris, France; Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, Chairman of CFAO, Nigeria; Mr Masaya Otsuka, Charges d’Affairs and Interim of the Embassy of Japan; Mr. Steve Faderin, Group Managing Director & Country Manager, CFAO Nigeria among others.
Lubcon is an emerging global brand from the Nigerian market. It is a dynamic company which aspires to be a world-class energy company exceeding the changing needs of its customers. Since inception, Lubcon has been producing world class products applying global best practices creating employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians across the country and in all its operating environment in West African sub-region.
LUBCON, being the first Oil and Gas Company in Nigeria to be ISO certified in the year 2002 and the winner of the 2015 National Productivity Order of Merit Award of the Federal Government of Nigeria, remains committed to the highest international quality standards which have remained its hallmark.
Over the years, Lubcon has become a key player in the oil and gas sector through the manufacturing, lifting, distribution and sales of petroleum and allied products.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
Cisco is exploring artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions to support smallholder farmers in Nigeria, as part of efforts to expand digital inclusion and technology adoption.
The initiative focuses on improving agricultural productivity through accessible, data-driven tools.
The move aligns with growing collaboration between Nigeria and the United States under the Commercial and Investment Partnership, which prioritises the digital economy, agriculture and infrastructure.
Speaking at the 2026 World Business Chicago, Brian Tippens, chief social impact and inclusion Officer at Cisco, said the company is assessing practical AI applications to help farmers combine local knowledge with data insights.
He said Cisco is exploring tools such as AI-enabled WhatsApp communities, geospatial mapping and weather intelligence to support day-to-day farming decisions.
The approach reflects a shift towards low-cost, mobile-first solutions suited to rural environments.
Tippens added that the Cisco Foundation is investing in early-stage startups developing technologies for local agricultural challenges.
Industry analysts note that AI adoption in emerging markets depends on locally relevant solutions, rather than large-scale enterprise deployments alone.
Beyond agriculture, Cisco plans to expand digital skills development in Nigeria through programmes such as the Cisco Networking Academy’s One Million Learners initiative.
Tippens said the programme also supports partnerships with organisations working with persons with disabilities, including those developing tools for people with visual impairments.
He added that Cisco’s social impact strategy aims to improve access to technology and promote inclusion, including in conflict-affected regions such as Borno State.
Cisco’s initiatives form part of broader efforts to link digital skills, connectivity and AI adoption to economic development in Nigeria.
Federal Government has launched a nationwide Artificial Intelligence (AI) capacity-building programme for teachers in Federal Unity Colleges, with about 11,700 educators set to acquire digital skills aimed at improving classroom instruction and preparing students for a technology-driven future.
The initiative advanced with the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) between the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited, paving the way for the nationwide implementation of the AI Teacher Capacity Development Programme.
The programme, to be implemented through the ministry’s Education Support Services Department, is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to modernise Nigeria’s education sector, strengthen teacher professionalism and equip students with skills required in the digital economy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Director of the Education Support Services Department, Gabriel Amudipe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s teaching workforce and the future of education.
He said the nationwide rollout followed the successful completion of a pilot phase conducted in selected Federal Unity Colleges.
According to him, the implementation model developed by ICEDT Consult Limited will ensure effective coordination and quality delivery of the programme across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Amudipe urged officials responsible for monitoring the project to ensure strict compliance with the implementation guidelines and maintain the standards achieved during the pilot phase.
“The ministry remains committed to supporting innovative initiatives that strengthen teacher professionalism, improve learning outcomes and promote the responsible integration of emerging technologies into education,” he said.
Earlier, the Deputy Director of the Education Support Services Department, Oladele Fapohunda, described the programme as a strategic intervention designed to deepen digital innovation across Federal Unity Colleges.
He stressed that collaboration among all stakeholders would be essential to achieving the objectives of the initiative nationwide.
Also speaking, the Head of Strategic Partnerships and Learning Scientist at ICEDT Consult Limited, Dr Abdulrahman Orosanya, said the Federal Government approved the national rollout after the successful pilot implementation in six Federal Unity Colleges representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to Orosanya, the pilot demonstrated the potential of Artificial Intelligence to improve lesson planning, classroom delivery, assessment methods and teachers’ productivity.
He said the nationwide implementation would strengthen teachers’ digital competencies, improve instructional delivery and support the government’s vision of building a technology-driven education system capable of producing globally competitive graduates equipped with 21st-century skills.
The ceremony ended with the formal signing of the Terms of Reference by officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited, signalling the commencement of preparations for full implementation across all Federal Unity Colleges.
The ministry said the programme would directly train about 11,700 teachers, while thousands of students across the country’s Federal Unity Colleges are expected to benefit through improved classroom instruction, increased digital innovation and the responsible application of Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning.
It reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to modernise Nigeria’s education system, improve teacher quality and deliver inclusive, equitable and future-ready education nationwide.
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