The deputy speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Amarachi Iwuanyanwu has lauded the promise by Governor Hope Uzodinma to take 4,000 Imo youths abroad, stressing the significance of visionary leadership in today’s world.
Recall that governor Uzodinma, during one of his vote mobilisations tour ahead of the governorship election, promised to assist no fewer than 4,000 interested indigenes of Imo State with relocation and employment in Europe and Canada before the end of December this year.
Drawing inspiration from historical figures like Jonathan Swift, Iwuanyanwu in a statement yesterday emphasised the enduring relevance of Swift’s words: “the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”
Iwuanyanwu argued that no government could provide enough jobs for all its citizens, especially in a country like Nigeria.
He pointed out that even the world’s strongest economies, such as the USA, China, Japan, and Russia, have citizens seeking opportunities abroad.
Iwuanyanwu, however, noted that the idea of sponsoring 4,000 youths from Imo State to Europe is a commendable effort to lift families out of poverty and contribute to the state’s economic growth.
He noted that great visions are often met with ridicule and skepticism, but the mark of a true leader is the unwavering commitment to those visions, regardless of the initial opposition.
The statement reads in part: “History is not scarce of great leaders in politics, religion, business and the sciences who were misunderstood and whose great visions were initially ridiculed and condemned as either impossible or irrelevant, but what stands these leaders out and made them heroes at the end is their tenacity at sustaining these visions and riding it through to the benefit of even those who never gave it a chance.
“Apparently, Senator Hope Uzodinma is making it impossible for the opposition in Imo State to have anything of significance to campaign with, hence, they resort to embarrassing levels of mudslinging. This might also be their own strategy of trying to draw attention away from the ongoing distribution of 15,000 laptops to beneficiaries of the Skill-Up Imo program. These laptops are imbued with lucrative programmes and software that would enable beneficiaries become self-sufficient as they could do a lot while sitting in their homes or offices.”
Iwuanyanwu hailed Uzodinma for his relentless pursuit of a vision that has left the opposition in Imo State scrambling to find meaningful campaign issues.
He suggested that the recent spate of mudslinging from the opposition might be an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing distribution of 15,000 laptops to beneficiaries of the Skill-Up Imo program.
The deputy speaker said the laptops are equipped with powerful software to empower beneficiaries to become self-sufficient, even from the comfort of their homes.
Reflecting on her own experiences as a leader and businessperson, Iwuanyanwu stressed the importance of audacious visions and the need to persevere in the face of doubt.
He acknowledged that some doubters might be genuinely ignorant, while others could be driven by partisan interests.
Nevertheless, he urged everyone not to be deterred by doubt and to continue pursuing visions that benefit the people.
As a student of the Uzodinma Political and Leadership School of Thought, Iwuanyanwu lauded Uzodimma as a visionary leader who is driven by a passion for leaving society better than he found it.
He highlighted his commitment to creating opportunities for Imo State’s citizens to explore their potential, particularly in the context of the ambitious plan to send 4,000 youths to Europe for educational and economic opportunities.
He emphasized the importance of the Nigerian diaspora, which remitted billions of dollars to Nigeria annually, providing jobs and boosting economic growth.
Sending 4,000 youths abroad, according to Iwuanyanwu, would potentially channel trillions of Naira into Imo State’s economy and improve the lives of many families.
Iwuanyanwu expressed his excitement about the opportunity and her confidence in Senator Hope Uzodinma’s ability to fulfill this audacious promise.
He cited previous accomplishments, such as the reconstruction of the Imo State House of Assembly complex and major road projects, as evidence of Uzodinma’s capacity to realize his vision.
Iwuanyanwu assured Imolites that, in a matter of months, the 4000 youths would be well-prepared to embark on their journeys to Canada and Europe, returning with valuable skills and opportunities for the development of their home state.