By Godwin Egba, Port-Harcourt
In recognition of its Corporate Social Responsibility, Orlean Invests supports sustainable community partnership which it strongly believes that competitiveness as a company rests on having transparent relations with all stakeholders, so a method known as the integrated participatory approach is applied whereby goals and benefit are mutual in order to create an environment in which the host communities and company become fundamentally interdependent for growth and development as a matter of principle. The company believes in moral obligation to be inclusive of their host community’s welfare hence the development of College of Football in order to create a new reality for the promotion of sport and development of young talents in football and other sports. This approach guarantees host communities’ friendly operation.
Orlean Invest implements its stated vision in cooperation with respective government authorities, National oil companies and with the participation of all the major oil and gas producing and related service and construction companies. The vision being ultimately in line with African Institute of Petroleum philosophy of adopting a pan-African regional approach to handling oil and gas related activities in the region.
Gabriele Volpi, known as a business man who does not compromise failure, is described as an entrepreneur par excellence. The meteoric ascension of this great Italian and Nigeria to becoming a maritime and logistic colossus has become an axiomatic fact that has been tested and proven to a logical conclusion by the overwhelming role being played by the company, Orlean Invest, in both the maritime as well as oil and gas industries of Nigeria. Born about 70 years ago, Gabriele Volpi’s maiden romance with Africa and indeed, Nigeria, was initiated way back in 1976, navigating the mountain to success that takes a lot of determination, hard work, dexterity and virile passion that he brought to bear when he finally berthed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria with Med Africa Shipping which was responsible for bringing him to the country as its Managing Director.
An uncommon entrepreneur par excellence, the astute and nimble minded business mogul is also endowed with dexterous creativity and initiative; this also gave him a unique opportunity to further contribute to the economic growth of his beloved country, Nigeria, his second home. He was to graduate into the present multinational maritime logistics services some years later.
Yet again, he was to take advantage of his unique entrepreneurial qualities to partner with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the creation of a dedicated and one in Africa specialized Public private partnership scheme known as the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone. The partnership has been described by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as “a unique model” which was to later set the pace of transformation of the Nigerian maritime industry.
It is no doubt that the Federal Government of Nigeria thus appreciated his earnest contributions and patriotism by bestowing the very privileged Nigerian citizenship. He has spent half of his active fruitful years collaborating to move our nation to greater industrial and economic heights.
A notable philanthropist, investor and industrialist, his vision has overwhelmingly influenced thousands of Nigerian and expatriates alike through the creation of jobs and communities empowerment programmes.
Today in support of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda in attracting investors into the country, Orlean Invest partners with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Petroleum and Transport Ministries to drive the only Nigeria Oil & Gas Investment Forum at Onne Port, now in its second year running.