Mr. Festus Uzoma Mbisiogu is chief executive officer, Blue Diamond Logistics Group, a logistics firm that handles group-page/personal containers from any city in China, funds the freight and customs clearing costs on behalf of Nigerian-based clients.
The company’s business is to bridge the gap between Nigerian importers from China and Chinese producers. It handles as much as 80 per cent of Nigerian imports from China. “We help them to communicate with manufacturers in China; we stand as a middle person and help them coordinate what they are buying; we ship and also clear for them”, the group CEO explained.
Mbisiogu’s vision is to place Blue Diamond Logistics among the top 10 logistics companies in the world with a mission to ensure accuracy, speed and safety of customers’ goods and achieving stress-free movement of goods.
The group operates through its network offices across China, Hong Kong, Dubai, Vietnam, New Jersey and Europe with a collection centre in Holland. “We handle all documentation for companies’ personal container just as we act as middle person between the buyer and the supplier in case of language barrier,” its CEO said.
Mbisiogu attended the University of Lagos and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 2007. He also holds a Master’s degree in business administration from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, China. He attended many local and international business/entrepreneurial summits and training courses.
He speaks of himself as a living example of one of a few success stories of Diaspora Africans who have explored China’s vast business empire and excelled virtually in every area. He made humble beginning in the city of Guangzhou as a trade agent, driven by a keen interest to excel in the business world. “Through committed efforts and perseverance, I became one of Africa’s prominent business owners and employers of labor in both Africa and China”, he said.
Subsidiaries of Blue Diamond Group include Shanghai Engineering Construction & Industrial Works Ltd, Uzotex International Nigeria Ltd, Blue Diamond Hotel in Dubai, a freight forwarding company, Maranatha’ and Logistics Super Diamond Products, manufacturers of household items.
Shanghai Engineering Construction Works started operations in 2012 focusing on railway engineering, road construction, airport design and construction, housing and building construction and logistics business. It has a track record of completion of a number of outstanding Sino Engineering projects in China. The company operates a multi constructions and consultancy services in integrated engineering and project management from preliminary studies through design to actual project execution.
Mbisiogu decided to move the entire manufacturing base of the company back home in Nigeria. The Company’s objective is very specific in its provision of complete integrated engineering and project management services from preliminary studies through design to actual project execution.
The company’s partnership with one of China’s foremost engineering companies has given it an edge above the competition in construction with established competence in transportation & logistics, transport support services and general engineering works.
It has capacity to confidently embark on mega projects like the Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing South Railway Station, among other mega engineering construction projects the company has undertaken in China, Angola, Turkmenistan, etc.
The company’s cutting-edge advantage arises from its combination of highly diversified and experienced staff from various professional engineering background cutting across over five countries around the world. The company manufactures PVC pipes and ceilings, aluminum corrugated roofing sheets and security doors.
It also undertakes civil and mechanical engineering, estate development and management, highway design and construction, dredging and environmental services, oil and gas operations and water resources and supply.
Mbisiogu is a frequent representative of China-Africa Small Scale Industrialists in Nigeria and has shown his undiluted interest in growing small & medium enterprise activities among African immigrants in both China and other countries. He presses towards achieving a conducive business environment and policies for all small and medium scale businesses to take roots and grow.
“With the advantages posed by China, as the world’s factory, I have always charged business minded Nigerians in the Diaspora to diversify into construction services and large-scale manufacturing of construction and building materials”, he said.
Though he midwifes importation, he sees the need to reduce its pressure on the home economy by diversifying into industrialization. Living by example, he moved the entire manufacturing base of Shanghai Engineering Construction & Industrial Works back home in Nigeria, an action that pulled a lot of Diaspora Nigerian investor interests back home as well for a remarkable contribution to the country’s economy.
He is an advocate of repatriating Diaspora Africans’ to businesses and wealth back home in order to trigger multiplier effects in domestic output, employment, poverty reduction and economic growth.
The homeward move however faces a major hurdle of poor energy supply that continues to congeal the progression of industrialization in the country. He has once faced the challenge of having to provide transformers in order to service water facilities he provided in order to enhance the quality of lives in the various communities of his local government – Ideato in Imo State.
Mbisiogu is the founder of Good Governance Initiative (GGI), a non-governmental organisation that advocates for nation building and government accountability to the public and institutional stakeholders. Today he is the Coordinator of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in China (NIDO) inaugurated by His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osibanjo the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He has been recognised for his remarkable achievements in entrepreneurship both home and abroad, for his remarkable impact among Diaspora Africans in China .and for championing and advancing the development of his community.
Mr. Festus Uzoma Mbisiogu, is an accomplished, versatile and noble gentleman who progressed from a very humble beginning driven by the quest for greater challenges and believing in education as a potent tool for social reconstruction, financial empowerment and self-actualization. He does not fall among the clear cases of people whose lights shone from their early age to becoming a role model he is to many people around the world today.
He was born on the 15th April 1973 to the family of late Mr. Festus and Mrs. Esther Mbisiogu, peasant farmers in Umuchima, Ideato Local Government Area, Imo State. He bagged a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2007 from the University of Lagos State and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the prestigious Guangdong University of foreign studies Guangzhou China. He attended and contributed in many topics in various local/international business/entrepreneurial summits and trainings. He is the Author of “The Blessings of Sacrificial Givin”; Above all, he is happily married to Mrs. MaryJane Mbisiogu and they are blessed with five beautiful children.
