Foremost Igbo entrepreneur and statesman, Okemili Charles Odunukwe, has challenged Nigerians in particular, and Africans in general, to wake up to the imperatives of innovating and investing in their homeland, as first line option for the economic growth of the continent.
The industrialist, who is president of Blue Orange Initiative and promoter, Colonades Hotels & Hospitality Range, made the remark when he was recognised as the “Dynamic Entrepreneur of Excellence” by Unizik Business School, Awka, Anambra State. He warned that the quest to take resources made in Nigeria or the continent, whether earned, acquired or stolen, and hide them in the so-called overseas safe havens, was at the centre of the current rising misery, naira suicide tumble, multiple insecurities and criminalities.
Okemili hailed the Unizik Business School for pioneering a knowledge spread to Ndigbo that is as unique as their acclaimed apprenticeship business incubation, where the masters are trained on a practical business mentorship improvement.
“Globally today, Ndigbo are known for their unique apprenticeship business incubation; a training by masters for learners & beginners in practical business mentorship. And today, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, named after our best nationalist and mentor extraordinary, the great Zik of Africa, is accelerating that legacy by training and mentoring those masters in their businesses to get better.
“As a man who labours in the kitchen of hospitality, I know that when you enhance the sauce, the menu is richer. Entrepreneurship and innovation are being celebrated here, and Ndigbo homeland prosperity project is being watered by the Unizik Business School like a tree by the riverside. We should all be proud of you because knowledge is at the core of human progress. Indeed, it is one positive thing I encourage all to ‘snatch it, grab it and run with it,’ because in Unizik Business School, it is served a la carte with added value.
“Priority to Homeland Prosperity i.e “Aku luo Uno,” is a philosophy that is dear to my heart and the organization that I am currently inspiring with like minds, the Blue Orange Initiative. It is not just critical for Alaigbo now in particular, but very urgent for our nation, Nigeria, and indeed, Africa. Nigerians and Africans must wake up to the imperative necessity to innovate and invest in their homeland as a first line option for economic growth, sustainable development, and political stability. The craving to take resources made here, acquired or stolen, and hide them in the so-called overseas safe havens, is at the centre of our current misery, multiple insecurity and criminalities, because investments are not enough to generate peace and passion for nationalism. The few that are there are closing down as naira, our currency, is being driven to the pit of value suicide.”
Odunukwe, while appreciating the Unizik for the recognition, said: “The Unizik Business School is doing a class act in intentionally making access to valuable knowledge open to the markets and artisans, who ordinarily may have been denied, even if they wished for it. That is the cornerstone for a needed shift in mindset, because as the good book said, people perish for lack of knowledge. As for our leaders in the South East, and our country, Nigeria, I do not have anything more to say that has not been said to them through grave appeals, passionate suggestions, and now, endemic frustrations by those they lead. I simply will continue to add my heart beaten prayers that their minds be arrested by leadership conversion to do good and act sane. Nigeria really deserves their mercies now to show they are not inherited enemies of their hopes.”