Ikpeazu woos Igbos to divest in South-East region

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has urged Igbo entrepreneurs in diaspora to divest some of their investments into the South-East region of Nigeria in order to create jobs and improve the economy of the region.

Ikpeazu made the appeal at his country home in Unuobiakwa, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, during a leadership colloquium to mark his 58th birthday.

He stated that the call has become necessary because Ndi-Igbo have been developing other regions at the detriment of their own.

“We need to realign our philosophy with what we have, so that we can conquer the world, economically,” Ikpeazu said.

“Igbos have the most hardworking people in the world and all we need to do is to look around us and bring all we have together to excel,” he said.

The governor said it was to ensure a bright future for youths of the state and beyond that his administration conceptualized the Enyimba Economic City (EEC) project which, when completed, would provide job for over 600,000 persons.

“We must find a way to find vocation for our youths and EEC is the answer as it is going to provide over 600,000 jobs for our youths,” he said.

Ikpeazu described Bart Nnaji, president of Geometric Power Limited, Aba, as a good example of an Igbo man, saying he sought a nexus between Geometric Power Plant and Enyimba Economic City.

Eminent scholars and technocrats at the event eulogized Ikpeazu for his administrative acumen and foresight.

George Obiozor, a professor and president general of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, while reviewing a book titled

“Okezie Ikpeazu: Raising the Bar of Governance in Abia” authored by Obiora Nzekwu, described Ikpeazu as future chief priest of Ndi-Igbo, noting that the book was well researched.

Obiozor, who was represented by Alex Ogbonnaya, commended Ikpeazu for championing the promotion of made-in-Aba goods.

Darl Uzu, promoter of EEC, said work on the project, which is being financed by Afreximbank, would commence early 2023.

Thanking Ikpeazu for the project, Uzu said EEC is so dear to President Muhammadu Buhari that he transferred federal government’s investment in the project through NSIA.

On his part, Nnaji described EEC as a game changer, noting that when it becomes operational, people would no longer travel abroad for greener pastures.

He said Ikpeazu was passionate about the development of Igbo land, hence his interest both in the EEC and the Geometric Power Plant.

John Udeagbala, national president, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), urged Ndi-Igbo to reintroduce the apprenticeship system, modernize and get it certified by government as it remains the biggest edge Ndi-Igbo have over other regions of the country.

“Igbo people should be encouraged to invest in their land so as to turn our brain drain into brain gain,” he said.