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By Henry Uche
South East Business and Investment Summit Group (SEBIS) has called on the Igbo sons and daughters to invest in their homeland for increased economic growth and development. The group made the call recently in Lagos during a roadshow/town hall meeting.
With the theme: ‘Remaking South East As Economic Powerhouse,’ the group agreed that it was high time industrialists and economic heavyweights in the ancestral region supported their own technologists, innovators, entrepreneurs and other talents in the creative sector.
With reference to Aba in Abia State, SEBIS believe that with the requisite business environment and other forms of support, young people in the region are capable of matching up and standing shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts anywhere in the world.
In a remark, the Executive Secretary of the group, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, reminded his kinsmen how they had been treated in Nigeria, particularly in the commercial hub, urging them to have a rethink. “Reality will dawn on us soon. Can’t we make a policy that anything we sell, we can produce? Our young people are overwhelmingly creative, we must support them. We must divest Lagos, can’t we take 30 percent of investments home?” he queried.
Okwenna, who is the CEO of Continental Export Development Nigeria, lamented that children in the region have no future in their home land because of the dearth of investment and development and may not forgive their elders. “We must give them reasons to be at home and those outside to return home. Nigeria must not happen to us before we realise who we are,” he decried.
For renowned pharmacist, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Igbo have spoken enough and it’s time for action. “We have spoken enough. We have all it takes to make our region the world’s attraction, we need strategy. The world operates on push and pull strategy, the time to act is now. I’m even making plans to relocate back home permanently,” he revealed.
On security issues, Chairman, South East Security Committee and President, Ndi-Igbo Lagos, Gen. Obi Umahi (retd), assured that insecurity would be history as the state governments were working assiduously to ensure safety of lives and properties. “Security would be better soon. But, to the elders in town, please come back home, while you are still alive and be useful to your community. Igboland is not a cemetery,” he warned.
For Prince Orji Ukpai, the unharnessed natural resources in South Eastern states worries him. Recollecting how palm Oil, cocoa, cashew, kernel, rubber and other resources sustained the region decades and centuries ago, he believes the region could rise again as one of the most flourishing destinations in the world. “During our last year edition, our mother, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spoke to us that the Igbo must rise and take their destinies in their hands. Igbo land is viable. There is a lot there. There is absolute security in the land. The fabrics should be converted to finished products.”
Ukpai, who is the CEO of SARG Group, assured that the state governments were on the same page with them, having identified the potential and willingness of the people to be responsible, productive and contribute to the economy. “Everyone is involved. Party differences are not the issue. We are who we are, we are not called Igbo by error, we can drive our region to our desired taste,” he added.
As the call for an increased investment in the Igbo land intensifies, some young people and stakeholders alike have challenged the business giants and politicians from the region to lead by example by channeling their investments and wealth back home. According to them, driving the much needed economic boost, the encouragement would start from the top. “They should lead by example. And they must relocate home first if they’re serious. It’s not enough to talk, action is key. If our indigenous innovation ecosystem must resurrect, let them take the lead, be at the vanguard because here in Lagos and other cities we are not recognized, despite all we have contributed in this country. Remember, it’s the impact one makes at home that the people count, not what you did in townships,” they admonished.
