Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has said she mentored the Group President of Azikel Group, Dr Azibapu Eruani, from his early days into becoming one of Nigeria’s prominent businessmen.

Jonathan said her encouragement and guidance helped Eruani develop the confidence to pursue major investments, including the establishment of the Azikel Refinery in Bayelsa State.

She spoke on Tuesday during an inspection tour of the refinery in Obunagha, Bayelsa State, a video of which surfaced online on Thursday.

The former First Lady said she personally encouraged Eruani to associate with successful businessmen, including Aliko Dangote and Aminu Dantata, and challenged him to aspire to their level despite being much younger.

According to her, Eruani was the youngest among a group of prominent businessmen she interacted with, but she deliberately encouraged him to learn from the more established entrepreneurs.

“He’s a boy that I brought up. We are always together. Although he’s the little one among us when we are friends — Dangote, Seyi, Dantata, Eruani — among us, he’s the smallest.

“But I made sure he followed the Dangotes, he followed Dantata. Because I’m a woman in their midst, I made sure I told this small boy, ‘Go and follow them, and stop the grammar.’

“But when he told me that one day he would be like Dangote, I said, ‘You’re thinking too high.’ I prayed to God to grant him his heart’s desire,” she said.

Jonathan also recalled Eruani’s efforts to obtain approval to establish a refinery during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

She said Eruani and others had approached her after deciding to venture into refining, but she initially doubted whether they would secure the necessary approvals.

“During the Buhari administration, he and others came to me and told me they were going to apply for a refinery. I told him, ‘Eruani, your brother, the President, did not give you a refinery.

“Is it the APC government that will give you one?’ I prayed it would happen. But later, they came back and told me they had been given three refineries,” she said.

The inspection came as the refinery took delivery of its Crude Distillation Unit, marking a major milestone in the development of the $1 billion facility.

The Azikel Refinery is a 25,000 barrels-per-day private hydro-skimming refinery designed to process condensate into products including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and kerosene.

The facility is expected to become Nigeria’s second-largest full-slate refinery and the first major privately owned refinery in the Niger Delta.

Also speaking during the inspection, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, commended Eruani for his perseverance in driving the project.

Ogbuku recalled attending the refinery’s groundbreaking ceremony about eight years ago, describing its progress as an inspiration and potential catalyst for investment and economic development in Bayelsa.

He said the refinery could create jobs and stimulate economic activities in the state, urging residents, particularly youths, to take advantage of opportunities that would emerge from the project.

Ogbuku also commended the Bayelsa State Government for improving road infrastructure leading to the refinery site and called for continued support for the project.

Governor Douye Diri, represented at the inspection by his deputy, Peter Akpe, has consistently supported the refinery project, which is expected to generate employment and contribute to industrial development in the state.

Other dignitaries at the inspection included the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Bubaraye Dakolo; Vice President of Azikel Group, Presley Asemota; and Isaac Yalah, among others.