CIGA’s maiden roundtable focuses on “Aba the Economic Giant”

By Ikechukwu Okoronkwo

The Collective Interest Group, Abia (CIGA) a development advocacy group with a vision to support development initiatives that will impact the lives and wellbeing of the citizens of citizens of Abia is now in the forefront of galvanizing stakeholders support towards making Abia the commercial nerve centre and economic hub, east of the Niger.

To actualize its objectives in this direction and as first step in making it a reality, CIGA is organizing a maiden edition of a Roundtable discussion focusing on “Aba the Economic Giant” with a view to have a discourse on Aba and its economic potentials.

It should be recalled that Aba is the economic and business nerve centre of Abia State. As a result, the state government under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is striving to ensure that Aba still remains relevant by ensuring that the city is open for business round the clock.

The Roundtable discussion has notable discussants drawn from all facets of economic endeavour with time tested records of leadership in that area who will distill Aba’s economic potentials, opportunities with a report that will aid in no small way, efforts of the present administration led by Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu in repositioning Aba as an economic destination not only in Nigeria but Africa by extension.

The panel for the Roundtable will be led by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former chairman of Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG); and founder/chairman Neimeth Plc, Udeagbala Ide, president of NACCIMA; Daniel Chinagozi, CEO, Innovation Growth Hub; Paddy Anyatonwu, DG, Abia Mass Mobilisation Agency; Kevin Madu, head of factory, PZ Manufacturing, Aba; Emeka Anaeto, Business Editor, Vanguard Newspaper; and Osa V. Obayagbona, Business Editor, BusinessDay. Dr. Max Nduaguibe is a Legal consultant for the session which will be moderated by Adline Okere, Editor, BBC Igbo.

Responding to media enquiries on the planned Roundtable, Secretary CIGA Ogbonnaya Ekwebele said that the programme is just one among several programmes and interventions lined up by the group in efforts towards contributing its own quota to support the present administration in the state to realize its economic blueprint and etch the name of Abia state in gold as a global economic destination.

He said that his group has watched with keen interest efforts being made by the present Governor Okezie Ikpeazu Administration in transforming the state in terms of youths empowerment, infrastructural development and specifically, the intervention in making Aba an economic hub, hence its intervention in powering the ongoing activities.

He urged the general public to join in the ongoing discussion as a way of supporting the initiative noting that it will also enrich their own worldview and experience in terms of exposure to internal capabilities that can be harnessed in Abia for the overall benefit of Nigerians and the rest of Africa.

“To participate in the discussion, interested members of the public are expected to join the conversation by registering for the online.

The Abia State government’s clear choice is to resume its position as a premier business destination. As fillip to this, the Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu administration has embarked on an iconic transformational project to develop the Enyimba Economic City. About 9,300 acres of land spanning three local government areas has been mapped out for the project. It is targeted to create 650,000 jobs in 10 years. Already, key anchor tenants have been attracted for the Enyimba Economic City.

The City will provide a serviced area that will integrally take care of marketing, warehousing, logistics, industrial and ancillary services. There will also be residences, schools, hospitals, entertainment facilities, and such others as needed. It would also come with incentives to attract local and international companies. The existing partnership with the Africa Export-Import (AFREXIM) Bank will boost the expectation of being able to take the manufactured goods into the export market, and establish a certification centre to enhance acceptability of the products in the export market.

Abia is geared towards re-building Aba to regain its position as the epicenter of Igbo entrepreneurial excellence so that the state again becomes a veritable investment destination as it used to be in years past. With this in mind, the state’s potentials are being harnessed and integrated into the global matrix and value chain of production, goods, services, trade and commerce. Altogether and as can be attested to, the state investment outreach has attracted over 25 blue chip investors from various sectors, local and international. Their operations will be mainly based in Aba.