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Tag: Prof. Obiora Okonkwo

  • I’m on a mission to rescue Anambra – Okonkwo

    I’m on a mission to rescue Anambra – Okonkwo

    Anambra All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo has assured he is on a rescue mission to salvage the State from being plunged further into the abyss.

    He gave this assurance on Wednesday in Abuja after receiving the N50 million nomination and expression of interest forms secured for him by a group under the aegis of Anambra Coalition for Progressive Change.

    Okonkwo said since he declared to contest the governorship, the incumbent Governor Charles Soludo is afraid of his aspiration because according him, “he (Soludo) knows I am the candidate to beat.”

    The Chairman of the United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited,l alleged that the Governor has embarked on series of moves to stop him from picking the APC governorship ticket.

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    Elated by the gesture of the coalition in purchasing the nomination forms, Okonwko appreciated the group and promised not to disappoint them, the party and the people of the state, if he wins the November election.

    “You have just presented to me a great gift of N50 million. As you can see, I am full of smiles. I would have said, I wasn’t expecting this but knowing that I am not in this race alone, there are a lot of people who have mind up their minds that whatever is happening in Anambra State isn’t the way to go, particularly with the issue of insecurity.

    “I am encouraged. If there is any doubt, I now know these people are going to match their words with action. They are beside me. With what you have done today, you are those who are beside me. I thank you very much for what you have done. Where this fund came, may God replenish you.

    “For those who haven’t joined this coalition, this is a wake up call. We will do justice to rescue Anambra from a man who knows all, who takes no advice.”

    Okonkwo said he was impressed by their gesture which he noted was an affirmation of their confidence in his capacity to govern the state.

    “We are aware of the huge amount being thrown around to ensure that I don’t get the ticket. He (Soludo) knows he can’t square up with me on election day. I have picked the form, I am prepared for the battle.

    “To all traditional institutions, religious leaders, the time is now. We may not have the control of having the ticket but we know that with the ticket in our hands, we will secure landslide victory for APC.

    “I am from Anambra Central, the votes are domiciled in Ndemili North I am leader of Ndemili North and South. So, the votes are guaranteed.”

    Expressing confidence of victory, the governorship hopeful recalled that in the last general elections, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu scored the highest votes from his constituency .

    “I am from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria and I led the campaign that produced Dr Chris Ngige as Senator. I led the same campaign that produced 6 house of assembly members in Anambra. I am back to produce the first APC Governor in Anambra.

    “Going to this election, we already have 7 local councils. We will partner with Anambra South and North to deliver Anambra for APC.”

    Leader of the Anambra Coalition for Progressive Change, Chief Ndubuisi Ezeani, said they mobilised fund to buy the form because they believe in Okonkwo capacity to change the governance narrative in the state.

    “We took the decision to buy the form. Anambra is always first. We need an individual that has the track record, the pedigree to develop our state. We have settled for Chief Okonkwo.

    “We know that he is a very comfortable person. We know he can buy the form but we are persuading him, to encourage him. We bought the form to show our seriousness. This is just a step, many other activities will follow before the primary and we are sure that he will win,” he said.

  • How govt, businesses can align to boost economy, Okonkwo

    How govt, businesses can align to boost economy, Okonkwo

    For the nation’s economy to grow and be sustainable, government and business policies must be aligned with global best practices, chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has said.

    Prof. Okonkwo stated this in an address at the maiden International Management, Business and Job Fair Conference of University of Abuja Business School yesterday.

    The three-day event with the theme, ‘Realigning Current Economic Realities In Emerging Economies To Sustainable Business Practices’  brought together academics and industry experts.

    They discussed new narratives for the sustainability of business practices in the country.

    Prof Okonkwo was Director of Administration of United Nigeria Airlines, Mr. Linus Awute.

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    Prof. Okonkwo noted that mainstreaming sustainability practices into policy directives would help bring Nigeria at par with global trends and open the economy to more investments.

    “I believe that our national governments should create an enabling environment for businesses to adopt sustainable practices by implementing effective regulations and providing incentives like tax breaks for green businesses, subsidies for renewable energy projects, and green procurement policies, for sustainable investment,” he said.

    According to him “businesses, public and private, must take responsibility for their environmental and social impacts and integrate sustainability into their business objectives and strategies by deliberately adopting sustainable production processes, implementing responsible supply chain management, and engaging in corporate social responsibility initiatives that promote environmental, economic and social sustainability.”

    Prof. Okonkwo also advocated that governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations ought to create a collaborative platform through which they can engage and educate the public about sustainable practices and their importance to the environment.

    “This level of conscientisation can change mindsets and create a demand for sustainable products and services.”

    He expressed optimism that the country’s business environment can create the needed impetus to drive needed economic growth with the adoption of sustainability responsibility in both government and private business.

    “I do not doubt that we will succeed in creating a future where Nigeria’s economic growth is balanced with sustainability responsibility and social equity that will, together, redefine Nigeria’s economic trajectory, ensuring a prosperous, sustainable, and resilient future for generations to come,” he said.