President general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, has called on Nigerians to invest in the Southeast.
He stressed that such investments would reciprocate the gestures and investments Igbos have made in other parts of the country.
Chief Iwuanyawu urged investors from other ethnic groups to contact Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide leadership if they have issues with acquiring land for such investments. He made this call through a release made available to newsmen.
Unveiling his transformation programme for the South East before Igbo stakeholders, Council Of Ndieze and Ohanaeze Ndigbo delegates, Iwuanyawu revealed that he would administer Ohanaeze Ndigbo through regional structure whereby a delegate system would be applied.
He also disclosed the intention to raise the bar by operating through the town unions in order to avoid misconceptions that Ohanaeze is a social club.
While explaining his programme for the industrial transformation of Igbo land, he noted that the Southeast has immense agricultural capacity and is yet to realise 20 per cent of its industrial potential.
He said with huge deposits of glass in Aba, high quality coal deposits in Enugu, ceramics at Okigwe and Abakaliki, raw materials for tyres, limestone in Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states, Igbo land has no business depending on crude oil.
Blaming unemployment and hunger for the increased agitation by youths in the South East, Iwuanyawu projected a N70 billion development fund to be raised through a planned N1000 yearly levy on all Igbo to be paid online.
Iwuanyawu also announced the incorporation of Ohanaeze Investment and Development Company before the end of 2023 with support from five South East governors.
He said that he is also planning an asset base of one billion naira for the headquarters of the organisation and N100 million asset base for the state liaison offices.
In his contribution, Eze Offia called for Igbo unity, and togetherness, and appealed to Iwuanyawu to wade into the issues of ‘Igbophobia’ and crisis that led to the emergence of factions in Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
He said: “Ahaejiagamba, your tireless efforts in advancing the cause of Ndigbo, preserving our rich cultural heritage and championing inclusivity has set a remarkable precedent within our community. We are immensely grateful for your steadfast leadership and unwavering dedication to the growth and progress of Ndigbo Worldwide.”
He enjoined Igbo people to be law-abiding and operate within the armpit of the rule of law and called on Igbo leaders to commence campaign on mobilisation, education and reorientation of Ndigbo on the need to think homewards by investing more at home even as they also invest outside Igbo land.
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