…Task Igbo to invest in Oji River industry city
By Peter Anosike
Ndi Ndu Ndigbo Na Uzo Ije (Igbo cultural leaders in diaspora) have commended the organizers of the recently concluded South East Economic and Security Summit, describing it as a step in the right direction.
They also tasked Igbo both at home and in the diaspora to invest massively in the Oji River Industrial City, a multi-billion dollar international trade complex being constructed by the government of Enugu State at Ugwuoba, the boundary between Enugu and Anambra states.
Speaking at their end of year meeting in Ibadan, which was attended by Igbo leaders in Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States, the National Chairman of the association, High Chief Aloy Obi said that if the outcome of the summit is implemented, it would go a very long way in restoring the dignity as well as the glory of Ndigbo as a people who are blessed with commerce and industry.
High Chief Obi who is also the Onye Ndu Ndigbo (leader of the Igbo) in Oyo State said that it was high time Igbo began to concentrate on their areas of natural competence which is trade and investment, instead of trying to be jack of all trades and master of none.
According to him, the economic and security summit opened up the potentials of Ndigbo, adding that if they would begin to work on that, in less than no time, the Southeast would once again become the hub of commerce and industry in Nigeria.
“I am happy to say that good things are now happening in the southeast with regard to economic development and one of them is the Oji River Industrial City that is being built by the government of Enugu State at Ugwuoba, just a few minutes drive from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State. It is a strategic project that would turn around the economy of Enugu State in particular and Southeast in general.
In his contribution, the Onye Ndu Ndigbo of Ekiti State, Chief Dr Nathaniel Uzomah said that though there had been other efforts in the past to build international trade centres in the Southeast, which did not see the light of the day, the Oji River Industrial City is different from them because it has trust, clarity, network, and support from the Federal Government and international partners.