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Umunne m ndi Anambra, Greetings and warm felicitations to you all.
I stand before you, not merely as Dr. Clem Aguiyi—a son of this great soil, a lawyer, journalist, fierce solutionist and consistent commentator on our collective affairs—but as one deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to God for the privilege of witnessing the 17th of March historic event: the second-term inauguration of my friend, boss, mentor and our visionary governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
At the remodelled and expanded Sir Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka and in a well attended ceremony graced by dignitaries such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, Vice president Ibrahim Shetima GCON, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the revered Ooni of Ife, traditional rulers, captains of industries and people from all walks of life and de creme la de creme of ndi Anambra, our governor delivered his second inaugural address that transcended ordinary rhetoric. It was a renewed covenant hinged on our shared destiny, hope, and prosperity – a powerful blueprint forged in intellectual depth, proven executive action, and unmistakable divine Providence. His words were not just a speech; they were a clarion call to consolidation, acceleration, and the institutionalisation of the progress we have already witnessed. Promise made and kept!
Ndi Anambra, we are truly blessed. In a nation still navigating uncertainties, God has gifted us a leader whose mindset remains serious, strategic, and relentlessly focused on the long term. Governor Soludo did not assume office with mere promises; he came armed with a vision he first articulated as far back as 2006—the audacious dream of transforming Anambra into an African Dubai–Taiwan–Silicon Valley (ADTS). That vision, meticulously refined through the Anambra Vision 2070—shaped by hundreds of professionals and thousands of stakeholders—continues to serve as our unwavering compass. It is no fantasy; it is grounded in our geography, our vibrant demographics, our legendary enterprising spirit, and our strategic position as the commercial gateway of the South-East and far beyond.
In just four years, the accomplishments speak volumes and validate the governor’s direction. Security has been largely restored: the police and local vigilantes well motivated and equipped, 62 criminal camps dismantled, eight local governments liberated, and the infamous Monday sit-at-home brought to an end. The governor also tackled the very root cause of crime as he clamped down on fake dibias and medicine men, not because of their faith or religious practice, but for their dubious trade in fake jujutsu. Oso Soludo was real.
Soludo didn’t just wage a political revolution. he was also a social- cultural revolution. To his credit, Anambra now ranks among the safest states in Nigeria. Our infrastructure revolution—nearly 3,000 kilometres of roads rehabilitated and over 200 km dualised—has begun knitting our state into a seamless, connected megacity. Education is winning again: public schools dominating national awards, out-of-school children reduced to a record low of 2.9 per cent, and enrolment surging by nearly 50 per cent through genuine free education. The government targets that by 2030, Anambra will have zero out-of-school children. With the smart school initiative, every school and every child will have access to either tablet or laptop. In health, triumphs abound: free maternal care has benefited over 208,000 women with zero mortality, new general hospitals are rising, and we lead nationally in primary healthcare delivery. Urban regeneration is turning former slums into modern New Havens. Okpoko and Onitsha are modern testimonies; youth empowerment via 1Youth 2 Skills is birthing digital tribes and new millionaires; and the palm revolution has been revived with millions of seedlings distributed. Remarkably, all this has been achieved without borrowing a single kobo from commercial banks—clear testimony to prudence, transparency, and value-for-money governance.
These are not mere statistics; they are the solid foundations of a new Anambra. Now, entering this second term—Gear 4.0—the Governor has outlined bold imperatives that call for our immediate, collective resolve: securing a Land Bank urgently to preserve space for future developments before our limited land is fully encroached. This has become emergency; building four new cities and an Innovation District; advancing rail connectivity, gas infrastructure, and localised electricity solutions; regenerating Onitsha Main Market, Onitsha metropolis, and Nnewi; reimagining our health and education ecosystems; and enforcing cultural rebirth through the Homeland Security Law and the ongoing crusade against wealth-without-work.
This is the essence of the Solution Agenda—a people-centred manifesto guided by the timeless Igbo principle of “onye aghala nwanne ya,” leaving no one behind. To bring it to full realisation, we must sustain our sacrifices: in civic discipline, tax compliance, peaceful coexistence, and steadfast support for government policies. Let us firmly reject the voices of cynicism and naysaying that seek to dim our collective light. Instead, let us embrace peace through uncompromised security. When our homeland is truly safe, enterprise thrives, investments pour in, and our youths shift from shortcuts to honest labour, innovation, and legitimate wealth creation.
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Patriotic investment is now our urgent collective duty. Without capital capacity, even the grandest vision stalls. The opportunities are boundless: the Economic Free Trade Zone at the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City and Aerotropolis, the Coordinated Wholesale Centre, the 5-star hotel at the International Convention Centre, and many more. Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora—who have excelled across Nigeria and the world—must now “think home always.” Channel your resources homeward. Expand our revenue base. Every investment made today creates jobs, strengthens infrastructure, and builds shared prosperity for future generations.
To ensure this revolution endures far beyond any single administration, I strongly echo and support the call for the immediate establishment of the Anambra State Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies. This world-class institute will train and retrain leaders, conduct rigorous research, democratise participation, and harness the best talents from every corner of our state and diaspora. It will function as the indispensable think-tank engine, translating Governor Soludo’s core tenets—inter-generational sustainability, the ADTS pillars, and ethical rebirth—into enduring, actionable policies while monitoring progress and keeping the flame alive for decades to come.
Umunne m Ndi Anambra, Governor Soludo is more than a governor; he is the visioner who has become the executor. Anambra is no longer merely a departure lounge—it is rising as a preferred destination for investment, innovation, and dignified living. With his Providence-ordained leadership, the African Dubai–Taiwan–Silicon Valley is no longer a distant dream; it is our unfolding reality.
Let us align fully with these lofty proposals. Let us sacrifice where necessary, invest patriotically, unite resolutely, secure lasting peace, and build together. The road ahead remains challenging, but with Soludo at the helm and Ndi Anambra resolute in purpose, our manifest destiny awaits.
God bless Anambra State!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Thank you, and may we all rise to meet this defining moment.
