IN PRAISE OF MOHAMMED SAADE

Dr. Mohammed Saade has revolutionised the iron and steel industry in Nigeria by introducing the imported billet to manufacture iron rod that meets international standard. He was the brain behind the establishment of Standard Metallurgical Company (SMC), Companie Industrialle Commcillie (CIC) and Sonit. CIC is a fishing company while SMC is an iron and steel company. Dr. Saade has set a pace in the fishing company for others to follow. During his tenure as the managing director of CIC he was never for once accused by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of importing decayed fishes for human consumption. As the managing director of CIC, he transformed and restructured the company. He contributed his quota in reducing unemployment rate in Nigeria to the barest minimum by employing thousands of Nigerians in CIC, SMC and Sonit. The spirit of personal development, organisational growth and economic development made him an exceptional leader among his contemporaries. His primary assignment is to execute programmes and formulate policies that will make the company meet international standard. He has been a winner in all the sectors in Nigeria. He made the CIC the best fishing company in Nigeria by bringing new innovation. He also employed technocrats in the company that put things in a proper perspective. As a man who does not discriminate between Christians and Muslims, he has a vision and dream to reposition any organisation he found himself. His leadership quality stands him out among his colleagues. He is a seasoned administrator who knows how to set goals and objectives. He is also a strategic planner. The billet materials used by SMC has been tested and certified by the association of engineering and international bodies. The SMC was established to correct some of the ills in the iron and steel sector in Nigeria. Some of the companies producing iron rod in Nigeria are using sub-standard material which is a bad omen for the sector. These companies are not producing for the benefit of the customers using the iron rod, but for their own selfish interest. Dr. Mohammed Saade saw the weaknesses of the companies producing iron rod in Nigeria and capitalised on it. Saade came up with the name called Standard Metallurgical Company. The name is associated with superiority and quality. Anjorin Adeolu, Standard Metallurgical Company, Sagamu, Ogun State