Summit Household Solutions Limited has opened its ultra-modern manufacturing facility in Ota, Ogun State, as part of its efforts to scale production of home and personal care products in Nigeria.

The plant, which started operations in April 2025, produces items such as dishwashing liquids, handwash, sanitisers and multipurpose liquid soaps, with an annual capacity estimated at 7,000 tonnes.

Commissioning the facility on behalf of Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Investment, Mr Kehinde Akintomide, said the investment reflects growing confidence in Ogun State’s business environment.

He noted that the state hosts over 6,000 manufacturing firms and described the development as consistent with ongoing efforts to promote industrialisation, attract investment and reduce reliance on imports under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope initiative.

Akintomide disclosed that the factory has already employed more than 50 Nigerians, with projections to exceed 250 jobs as operations expand.

In his remarks, the General Manager of the company, Mr Sadiq Ali, said the facility represents a major step in Summit’s growth plans, adding that its flagship brand, 2Sure, currently leads production at the plant.

He also revealed that the company is preparing to introduce new home and personal care products later this year.

Summit Household Solutions manufactures the 2Sure brand and has expanded into the personal care segment with Lewar, a premium beauty soap line positioned for quality and affordability.

Among dignitaries present were the Onikotun of Otun, Ota, Oba Abdulakeem Odunaro, representing the Olota of Ota, Prof. Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege; the Agba Akin of Ota, Chief Dada Olusola; Director of Investment, Ms Yemisi Folarin; Director of Industrial Promotion, Mr Femi Adeboye; former Managing Director of 7Up Bottling Company, Mr Ziad Maalouf; and the Chief Executive Officer of OmniRetail, Mr Deepanker Rustagi.

Speaking at the event, Maalouf, who conceived the 2Sure brand during his time at 7Up Bottling Company, expressed satisfaction with its growth and commended Summit Solutions Limited for advancing the brand.

The special guests were conducted around the facility, and the programme was concluded with a luncheon.

The Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has officially opened the application portal for the DigiLeap Tech Drive, a core initiative in the Foundation’s digital inclusion agenda. The application portal will be open until 8th May 2026.

Targeting 200 underserved young women in the Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State, the programme is designed to bridge the gender divide in the digital economy by providing intensive, industry-standard technical and digital literacy training at no cost to the beneficiaries.

The DigiLeap Tech Drive is a strategic collaboration between the Airtel Africa Foundation, the ISHK Tolaram Foundation, and Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), with implementation carried out by the SAIL Innovation Lab, a leading centre for digital talent development in Nigeria.

Strategically engineered to transform high-potential individuals into workforce-ready professionals, this high-impact project will provide technical instruction, mentorship, and job-placement linkages, directly tackling regional unemployment and the systemic underrepresentation of women in the global technology sector.

Commenting on the project, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, emphasised that the partnership between the Foundation, Ishk Tolaram, and CcHub is central to the Foundation’s holistic mission of advancing both digital and gender inclusion across the continent.

“Our mission at the Airtel Africa Foundation is to accelerate digital inclusion across the continent,” he said. “By bringing the DigiLeap Tech Drive to the women of Ikorodu alongside Ishk Tolaram and CcHub, we are providing 200 young women with a definitive competitive advantage in the modern economy. This initiative ensures the digital revolution is truly inclusive; it isn’t merely a training session, but a professional pipeline designed to transition these women directly into internships and sustainable careers.”

In his remarks on the flag-off, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, highlighted Airtel’s dedication to ensuring that women are integrated into the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

“At Airtel Nigeria, we believe that empowering women with digital skills is a fundamental catalyst for national economic growth. With the DigiLeap tech training, we are creating a sustainable pathway for young women in underserved communities to move from the sidelines of the digital economy into the heart of the tech workforce. This initiative reflects our deep-rooted commitment to social impact and our belief that when women lead in technology, entire communities thrive,” he said.

Focusing on industry-standard competencies that enhance both employability and entrepreneurship readiness, application entry into the programme is now live and open to women aged 18–35 living in Ikorodu.

Cross River State Government said it has identified and isolated 10 persons who interacted with a Chinese national who reimported COVID-19 into Nigeria.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) while confirming a case of COVID-19 in the state, assured the public that there is no evidence of widespread transmission.

But, Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong, state epidemiologist, disclosed that the individuals were traced through contact tracing after interacting with the index case (Chinese national) and have since been placed under movement restriction.

“We’ve restricted their movements to their homes, so that they do not spread the symptoms to other persons,” Ekpenyong said, noting that the contacts were under close monitoring by health officials.

She added that surveillance teams had visited the expatriate’s workplace in Akamkpa to track possible exposure and prevent further transmission.

The affected Chinese national is currently receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where authorities said he was responding positively.

Ekpenyong reminded residents that COVID-19, despite first emerging about six years ago, has not been eradicated, urging continued adherence to preventive measures.

She advised the public to maintain regular hand sanitisation, use face masks where necessary, and follow public health guidelines issued by experts.

But, Dr. Jide Idris, director general, NCDC, said, “Public health surveillance systems remain active nationwide, and we are working closely with state authorities to ensure early detection and swift response to any case.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Dr. Idris, said there is no cause for alarm, adding that “We are monitoring the situation closely and our response systems are active and working,”.

Earlier, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, state commissioner for Health,  confirmed the first case and assured residents that all necessary containment protocols had been activated.

According to Ayuk, the index case involves a 53-year-old Chinese national who arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and later developed symptoms while in Akamkpa.

He explained that the patient’s condition worsened while receiving treatment at a state facility before he was transferred to UCTH for advanced care.

“At the facility, samples were taken in line with established protocols, and it was confirmed that the patient showed symptoms of COVID-19,” Ayuk said.

“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” he added.

The commissioner stressed that the state’s health system has been strengthened to respond effectively to outbreaks, with surveillance mechanisms fully operational across Cross River State.

He acknowledged the presence of occasional silent infections but maintained that the government remained prepared to manage any public health threat.

“But we are determined that for every ailment, every disease or outbreak, if it is identified here in the state, there should be no alarm. The state will do well in terms of surveillance or containment of an outbreak. Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it. So, there is no alarm,” Ayuk stated.

Ayuk further noted that COVID-19 remains a global concern, warning that cross-border movement of infected individuals continues to pose risks.

“COVID-19 is not peculiar to Nigeria. But we’re determined to contain it. There’s no cause for alarm,” he said.