At 34th Anniversary, Leemon Ikpea Says Lee Engineering Group May Go Public in Future

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Chairman and Chief Executive of Lee Engineering Group and Allied Companies Limited, Dr Leemon Ikpea, yesterday stressed that the management of the organisation was working to ensure it goes public in the future.

Speaking at the 34th Anniversary Town Hall meeting of Lee Engineering and Construction Company, themed: “Sustaining Excellence, Deepening Legacy, and Shaping the Future,” he stated that to secure the long-term leadership and stability of the group, the Board had recently approved the appointment of new Chief Operating Officers for some of its subsidiaries.

In the same vein, he stressed that the company was empowering existing COOs to take greater ownership and responsibility for driving their businesses under the umbrella of the Group.

Thirty-four years ago, he recalled that the company began the journey in a modest 40-foot container — armed with faith, determination, and an unyielding vision, but said that today, through hard work, resilience, and divine grace, Lee Engineering has grown into a multi-subsidiary enterprise with strong footprints across Nigeria and beyond.

This remarkable transformation, he pointed out, was made possible by employees’ dedication, professionalism, and loyalty.

“Our story remains one of vision, persistence, and purpose. From our humble beginnings to our current position as a leading indigenous engineering group, we have shown that integrity, innovation, and teamwork are the true foundations of enduring success.

“As we celebrate this 34th anniversary, we must also look to the future with renewed commitment. The future belongs to those who plan for it. This is why our focus remains firmly on: Building profitable and sustainable growth across all subsidiaries ensuring efficiency, competitiveness, and operational excellence.

“(We are) strengthening corporate governance to secure the long-term leadership and stability of the Group.

“In line with this, the Board has recently approved the appointment of new COOs for some of our subsidiaries, while empowering existing COOs to take greater ownership and responsibility for driving their businesses under the umbrella of the Group.

“This marks a deliberate step in nurturing the next generation of leaders, fostering accountability, and ensuring that Lee Engineering continues to thrive well into the future. (We are) preparing for the future of the Lee Group — including exploring pathways that will, in the decades ahead, position the company to go public, while preserving our ownership philosophy and values,” he stated.

In the same vein, he noted that the company was expanding its frontiers, explaining that the subsidiaries — Lee Engineering and Construction Company Ltd, Lee International Machinery and Services Ltd, Trebet Aviation Ltd, Trebet Travels and Tours Ltd, and KIZI Oil and Gas Services Ltd continue to create value, contribute to national development, and sustain its reputation for quality and innovation.

The Amaniba Oil Field Project being handled by KIZI, among others, he explained, stands as a testament to overall capacity and bold vision to break new grounds in the Nigerian business environment.

Yet, even as the Group grows, he maintained that it must never lose sight of the principles that brought it this far, hinged on hard work, unity, discipline, and faith in God. These, he said, remain the enduring pillars of the Lee Engineering brand.

“As I gradually take a back seat in the day-to-day operations of our businesses, my greatest joy lies in seeing the structures we have built become stronger, and the next generation taking up the mantle with renewed vigour.

“Leadership succession is not about stepping aside; it is about ensuring continuity — about building something that will outlive us all. Let us, therefore, continue to sustain excellence, deepen our legacy, and shape our shared future together,” Ikpea stated.