Industrialisation: South East govts, business leaders meet

From Magnus Eze, Enugu

South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) and the business committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide are to unveil investment and industrialisation plans for the region.

Chairman of the SEGF and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma disclosed this during a Consultative meeting with members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Igbo Business Leaders in Owerri, Imo State.

The Governor who said that his state was ready for business and eager to receive investors with the requisite know-how and technology in gas exploration said the move was aimed at making the zone investment haven.

He applauded Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the constituting August Council.

He declared that the lofty objectives of the Council which include to identify young Igbo entrepreneurs and groom them towards mega business ventures; instituting a united and credible voice capable of speaking for the business community in Igbo land; liaising with international, national, regional, state agencies with a view to creating an enabling and conducive environment for investments in Igbo land, were endorsed by the Forum.

“I am impressed by the calibre of the delegation, which include Chief Alex Chika Okafor of Chicason Group; Mr Frank Nneji of ABC Transport Group; Mr Johnson Chukwu of Cowrie Assets; Darl Uzu of Enyimba Economic City; and Lady Josephine Nwaeze among other distinguished Igbo business leaders and professionals.

“With this kind of group led by our patriotic, experienced and versatile leader and corporate giant- Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, I am sure Ohanaeze made a good decision in setting up this formidable team,” the governor stated.

Leader of the delegation, Ohuabunwa, noted that the Council’s terms of reference clearly showed that the apex Igbo body needed it to work with governments of the region to enhance economic development and integration in the land.

He observed that the unwillingness of Igbo businessmen and industrialists to invest in the zone had brought untold neglect and hardship there, even as they were boosting the economies of other regions of the country.

Ohuabunwa praised the Forum for its efforts at stablising the economy of the South East, saying “It is our view that we should see the Igbo land as a region with more commonalities than differences and so propose that the region can have common investment policies and practices. We are essentially a homogeneous group and should be able to work together to build leverages and better compete with other regions of Nigeria.

“On inauguration, the first assignment of the committee was to review the terms of reference and after an exhaustive debate, it became clear to us that what the Ohanaeze Ndigbo essentially wants us to do, is to work with the Governments in our region to support them bring enhanced Economic development to Igbo land and change the situation and condition of our people.”

He told the economic trajectory of the South East and appealed to governments of the region to provide them with regular updates on their economic policies and initiatives to enable them spread to the business community and help generate buy-in.

“Our region has suffered so much neglect over a long time and combined with several other historical, political, social and economic factors, our people have been widely dispersed all over Nigeria where they have made significant contributions to the social and economic development of those regions.

“Over time, it has resulted in apparent neglect of our region in terms of economic and social development. youth unemployment became rife and there have been troubling upticks in social malfeasance.

“For many years but particularly in recent times, our people especially our businessmen and traders in some sections of the country have suffered losses and unfair treatment. Many are often threatened with confiscation of their property and recently there have been destruction of business property of Ndigbo in some parts of Nigeria. Thankfully, you mobilised a few of our political leaders to intervene in the Alaba Market case.”

Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State; Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Chairman of Council of Igbo Business Leaders (middle); and members of the Council after the Consultative Meeting in Owerri

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