By Anayo Okoli

THE five governors of the South East region have indicated willingness to collaborate with the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, towards attracting viable industries to the region.

The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma gave the green light yesterday in Owerri at a meeting with members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Igbo Business Leaders who were on a consultative visit to him.

Governor Uzodinma said his state, Imo, is ready and eager to receive investors with the requisite know-how and technology, especially in gas exploration. He commended Ohanaeze Ndigbo for constituting the Council to explore business opportunities in the region.

He expressed the readiness of the Governors to support the good objectives of the Council which include identification of young Igbo entrepreneurs and groom them towards mega business ventures as well as instituting a united and credible voice capable of speaking for the business community in Igbo land; and to liaise with international, national, regional, state agencies with a view to creating an enabling and conducive environment for investments in Igbo land, among others.

“I am impressed by the calibre of the delegation, which include Chief Alex Chika Okafor of Chikason 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.

“I am impressed by your broad terms of reference and I promise maximum cooperation and support alongside my brother Governors. Imo is ready for business and, we are looking for those with good ideas- 21st Century mindset for technology and gas exploitation.

“And contrary to some views, the South East Governors’ Forum is alive and active. All your prayers have been approved”, Gov. Uzodinma said.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the Council of Igbo Business Leaders, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, noted that the Council’s terms of reference indicate that the apex Igbo body needs 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 South East has brought untold neglect and hardship in the region, while boosting the economies of other regions of the country.

Commending the Forum for its efforts at stabilizing the economy of the South East, Ohuabunwa, said: “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.

“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.”

“We request that you  provide us with regular updates on Government economic policies and initiatives to enable us spread to the business community and help generate buy-in.”