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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Council of Igbo Business Leaders under Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the South East Development Commission (SEDC) have pledged to work together to drive economic development and integration across the Southeast region.
They said the time had come for critical stakeholders in the region to unite and forge a common front towards tackling youth unemployment and other social challenges confronting Igbo land.
Speaking during a meeting in Enugu, Chairman, Council of Igbo Business Leaders, Sam Ohuabunwa, urged Igbo entrepreneurs and investors to prioritise the South East in their investment plans. He said the region had suffered years of neglect arising from historical, political, social and economic factors.
Ohuabunwa said the council’s mandate includes identifying and mentoring young Igbo entrepreneurs for large-scale business ventures, creating a credible voice for the business community in Igbo land, and supporting market development within the region.
He stressed the need for strong synergy with the SEDC and other development stakeholders.
He said: “This is the opportunity we long wished for. I must thank Mr. Mark Okoye for responding quickly to our letter and the board and management for approving this meeting. Let me also appreciate my colleagues who made sacrifices to be here despite the short notice and conflicting schedules.
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“The first assignment of the council was to review the terms of reference and, after exhaustive deliberations, it became clear that what Ohanaeze Ndigbo wants us to do is to work with governments and agencies responsible for regional development to bring enhanced economic growth to Igbo land and improve the condition of our people.
He added: “Our region has suffered neglect over a long period, combined with several historical, political, social and economic factors. Our people are widely dispersed across Nigeria, contributing significantly to the development of other regions, while the South East has witnessed inadequate economic and social development.
“Youth unemployment has become widespread, with troubling increases in social vices. It is, therefore, the desire of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to use this council to guide our people, who wish to invest at home, and ensure they have positive experiences.
“To perform this role effectively, we need to align with governments and development agencies in the region. We need to understand the investment plans and policies of the state governments and the South East Development Commission, so we can properly guide investors and guard against misinformation or mischief.”
On his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SEDC, Mark Okoye, thanked the council’s leadership and called for sustained partnership to advance development in the region.
Okoye urged the council to leverage its business expertise and networks to support investment mobilisation, diaspora and domestic partnerships, the South East venture capital programme, small and medium-scale enterprise development, capacity building, as well as policy and advisory support among stakeholders.
