…says Nsukka Investment Forum not political

By Uche Eze

The Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NSCCIMA) has called for collaboration with the Enugu state government for economic improvement of Nsukka cultural zone, emphasizing that such synergy will boost the revenue generation of the state.

NSCCIMA, in collaboration with Nsukka Professionals Association, Lagos State, made the call at the official flag-off of the Nsukka Economic Development and Investment Forum held at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu state. The theme of the event was “Rethinking Nsukka Economic Development Strategies”.

Addressing the participants at the event, the president of the Chamber, Barr. Sam Otoboeze said the forum was aimed at rubbing minds together with experts in different fields economic endeavours to finesse ways of revamping the economy of Nsukka cultural zone for greater wealth creation and revenue generation, adding that Nsukka as a hub of economic potentials in the State is a critical pillar in the realization of Enugu State’s $30 billion GDP target.

He however, described as an unfortunate, the news that made round the State that the economic summit was a political gathering against the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. According to him, “It is worrisome that all of a sudden, news started going round that the gathering is a political gathering against HE, the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. But there is nothing political about it; we are rather supporting the government. Chamber of Commerce is about development, economic growth; it is not a political platform. Fortunately, HE, the Governor of the State sent a representative, in the person of Dr. Nathaniel Emeka Urama, the State Commissioner for Finance”

Otoboeze pointed out that the forum was an excursion into the economic viability of Nsukka cultural zone and a means to dialogue and articulate on the way forward in enhancing the economic development plans of the zone, which include productivity, innovation, and connectivity.

“We in Nsukka are not waiting to be invited into the future; we are building it. And we believe that the pathway to achieving Enugu State’s vision lies through the cultural and economic engine of Nsukka. With approximately 55% of the State’s Population, strategic geographical location as a Northern gateway into the Southeast, and the immense human capital embedded in our academic, agricultural, and cultural institutions, Nsukka is ready to lead. We are not simply advocating for growth; we are ready to partner with the government and other stakeholders to deliver 60% of the State’s GDP target”, he said.

NSCCIMA, he added, has the vision to transform Nsukka into Agro-Innovation Corridor, innovation capital of the Southeast and establish a Tech & Creative Innovation District that would leverage university research, startup energy, and digital infrastructure to derive job creation and tech based solutions in health, education, agriculture, and enterprise.

He therefore said it won’t be possible for the chamber to work alone, but needs a synergy with the government and other stakeholders; and appealed to the Executive Governor of the State, Barr. Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to come to their aid, requesting specifically for formal designation of Nsukka cultural zone as a priority economic development zone under the State Development plan, permanent site as well as office complex and establishment of a Nsukka Chamber-State Government Joint Investment Facilitation Desk

Earlier in his opening remarks, the former Economic Adviser in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, Prof. Osita Ogbu, urged the people of the cultural zone to have broadened mindset in order to succeed in their economic and business ventures, stressing that good business people must have IQ and emotional intelligence for successful business. This was as he charged the seven local government areas chairmen in the cultural zone to take a cue from the Governor of Enugu State who has various strategies to re-engineer the State economic sector and transform the economic mainstream of the zone in alliance with the public and private sectors such as UNN.

The Enugu State Governor, Barr. Mbah, represented by the State commissioner for Finance, Dr. Urama in his remarks extolled NSCCIMA and Nsukka Professionals Association in Lagos for their proactive steps in addressing and reinventing the economy of the cultural zone, pointing out that what they have done was in line with the Governor’s ideals in transforming the economic sector of the State. While reiterating the Governor’s commitments to beef up Internally Generated Revenue of the State, with emphasis on transparency and accountability, the commissioner assured the people that HE would work in double harness with NSCCIMA to harvest the economic potentials in the zone to accelerate the State IGR.

In his keynote speech, Franklin Nnaemeka Ngwu, an Economist/Associate Professor in Strategy, Governance and Risk Management with Lagos Business School, said Nsukka has the potentials to create wealth and achieve revenue generation of over $30 million annually through its economy, stressing that what “is needed is for the people to set up smart goals”. According to him, the people need is to eschew unnecessary bickering and tension in politics that could undermine productive and prosperous economic life of the zone. He advocated the need for strategic communication among the people, creation of data bank, an investment SPV or a bank to finance socio-economic transformation as well as establishing chartered Institute of Vocational Studies to train and supply about 500 skilled labourers for Enugu state, Southeast and the country in general.

In their various goodwill messages, the former deputy governor of Enugu State, Okechukwu Itanyi, the chairman of Igbo-Eze South LG/ALGON vice chairman, Enugu State, Hon. Ferdinand Ugweze and Barr. Mrs. Ann Ezeakor who represented the Director General of WCCIMA, National, Eribo Weyinmi, all commended NSCCIMA and the organizers of the event, with Hon. Ugweze calling NSCCIMA to have similar economic platform with the local governments in the zone.

The forum featured technical session, anchored by Bishop Aloysius Eze Agbo, the Anglican Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, where Prof. Rose Onah and Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi elucidated on the way forward for exploiting, harnessing and improving on the economic potentials of the zone. There was also the inauguration of NSCCIMA Women’s wing and the unveiling of the Digital Data Warehouse for Nsukka zone

The event attracted people from various walks of life. Among them were the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Bishop Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, and his Anglican counterpart, Bishop Agbo, Prof. Rose Onah, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi (PMT) and HRH, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, the Igwe of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom.