Written By Temple Ugwuzor – A Public Affairs Analyst.
The Economic Strategy and Policy Perspective of DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU’S Transformation Agenda is engendered and engineered by the urgent need to diversify the economy of the State and reduce dependency on oil through increased manufacturing output and value-added activities. This underscores the vision and mission of the Governor to transform Abia State into a functional Private Sector led economy, by creating opportunities for citizens, improving the quality of lives and shaping the State into a Regional Entrepreneurship Hub.
In this regard, the Governor’s Economic Transformation Agenda is based on his five pillars of Development Initiative (Micro Small Medium Enterprises, (MSMES), Trade and Commerce, Agriculture, Education and Oil & Gas). Therefore, in order to propel the calculus of Industrialization in the State, DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU in his Economic Strategy has anchored the Development Initiative of his Transformation Agenda on Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMES) as the engine of growth of the economy. The Policy Objective of this Uncommon Transformation Agenda is to unleash the potential of the Private Sector, and build a strong Private Sector that, has the resilience to compete favourably in the global and domestic macro environments. DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU has changed the narratives of performance efficiency and available economic indices of development in the State show that, Abia State is on the path of Rapid Industrialization, Economic Growth, Employment Generation, Poverty Eradication, Food Security and Sustainable Development.
In this light, it may be pertinent to outline some of the achievement of DR. VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU in line with his Policy Objective of Economic Transformation Agenda in the State:
1. Creation of an Enabling Environment to Grow the Economy of the State and enhance Sustainable Development Through:
a. Macro-economic Stability of the economy of the State.
b. Economic Security: Provision of jobs for those able and willing to work as well as security of lives and properties through proper funding, provision of vehicles, instruments and gadgets to the various Security Agencies in the State. DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEZU has undoubtedly shown the political will and commitment to deal decisively, the nagging issue of insecurity, hitherto experienced in the State. This has drastically reduced to its barest minimum, such incidents, as Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Cultism and other violent crimes.
c. Proper Legislative Provision: The synergy that exists between the Legislature and Executive in the State has engendered the enactment of Laws that promote investment in the State.
d. Proper Tax Regime and Agenda: In this regard, many laws have been reviewed, amended and new ones enacted in line with the Governor’s New Economic Agenda to liberalize the economy of the State and attract both Local and Foreign Direct Investment, by making Abia the most preferred investment destination in Nigeria. This Policy measure is currently yielding positive results in terms of investment inflow in the State.
e. Economic Reforms and Agenda that promote the removal of critical bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing business in the State as well as core institutional changes to enhance massive infrastructural development and renewal needed to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), for instance, the harmonization and digitization of tax collection by the State Government as well as the establishment of an Ultra-Modern “One-Stop-Investment House in the State to ease the problem of doing business in the State.
f. Prudent Fiscal Management to harness available resources and channel them to critical areas that would enhance productivity and output as well impact positively on the lives of the citizenry.
g. Infrastructural Development and Renewal: In line with the Governor’s Vision of Radical Transformation of Abia State, Infrastructural Landscape before the completion of his 8 Years Tenure in office, he has seriously undertaken massive road construction, re-construction and rehabilitation unparalled in the annals of history in Abia State. This has seen the completion of 67 Roads with drainages and another 94 roads currently nearing completion, all spread across the 3 Senatorial Zones in the State.
Furthermore, in order to halt the decaying infrastructure of our School System, more especially, at the Primary and Secondary Levels, the Governor embarked on the construction of 304 School Buildings out of which 112 of them have been fully furnished with ICT Equipment, Sickbay, Chairs and Desks as well as Staff Quarters to provide conducive environment for learning in our schools.
On the other note, the Abia State Health Care Delivery System has received much boost from the Governor’s Innovative Changes at the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Levels which has put Abia State on the path of becoming a Centre of Medical Excellence not only in Nigeria but in Africa. For instance, the miscellaneous interventions in the Health Sector by the Governor which bestrides all levels of care, may include: the Establishment of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) which is accessible through dedicated toll free lines for attending to unforeseen emergencies anywhere across the State. The Abia Tele-Health Service which was formerly launched across the State by the Vice President of Nigeria himself, Professor Yemi Osibanjo. Abia is officially, the first State in Nigeria to key into the Federal Government E-Health/Digital Policy passed into Law in 2016. Abia has therefore, broken the frontiers through this exemplary Health Care Initiative and gained International acclamation and recognition as the State was officially invited to speak in an International Convention on “Transforming Africa through Digitization” hosted by Smart Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, to share our experience on this project, so that, others could learn.
Definitely, DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU, from all ramifications has shown, he is a “Trail Blazer”. At this juncture, may I please, buttress this my assertion about the Governor by quoting from one of the statements made by the Vice-President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibanjo on one of his official visits to Abia State, “On each of my visits to Abia State, I see something new, something different and something innovative, I am proud of Governor OKEZIE and the passion he brings to governance. Perhaps, the greatest thing he has done, in my view is the wonderful collaboration he engineers between the Federal Government and Abia State”.
On a further note, the Government of Abia State under the Leadership of DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU through, a collaborative initiative with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and its Rural Electrification Agency has commissioned the construction of a 5 Mega Watt Power Plant to provide over 37,000 shops at the Ariaria International Market, Aba with uninterrupted Power Supply. Therefore, one can only imagine the opportunities that will be unlocked for creativity and inventions. This effort is in tandem with the Governor’s Transformation Agenda anchored on the Five Pillars of Development Initiative which is propelled by calculus of Industrialization using Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMES) as a focal point to diversify and grow the economy of the State. This underscores the Governor’s passionate and diligent promotion of Made-in Aba Products within and outside the shores of this country in International Trade Fairs. This has evidently given impetus to the Governor’s Vision of Economic Transformation Agenda in the State.
In order to engineer his comprehensive development strategy in the State, the Governor has prioritized his development initiative in the 3 Senatorial Zones based on their different areas of comparative advantage. For instance, Abia South is prioritized as the Industrial Hub of the State and Abia North as the Agro-ecological Zone or Agricultural Belt of the State while Abia Central will serve as the administrative Hub as well as a Processing Centre for agricultural products harvested in Abia North. Therefore, to give greater momentum to his Comprehensive Economic Strategy, the Governor has embarked on the Construction of a Leather and Garment Cluster at Umukalika and Industrial Park/Cluster at Ovom, both in Obingwa Local Government Area as well as an Agro-Industrial Clusters at Umuahia. This is envisaged to handle Cassava, Oil Palm, Cocoa, Rice and Cashew Processing in the 1st Phase with potential of creating One Million jobs along the value chain of production, processing and marketing.
The Governor’s Cluster Development Programme is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the Cluster Enterprises by helping them reduce business costs through technological assistance and provision of commonly shared facilities, such as electricity, water and communication. Suffice it to say, in the area of Education, the Governor has set in motion policy measures that are transforming the Educational Sector in the State and put Abia on the forefront of Educational Excellence in Nigeria. The resultant effect of these, policy measures and initiatives is that, Abia State for the 4th Year running has maintained 1st position in WAEC and NECO Examinations respectfully. This is really, a feat to be reckoned with and another feather added to the Governor’s Cap.
To fully consolidate the gains of improved performance in the Educational Sector, the Governor engaged the services of an Australian Education Group for the retraining of teachers in the State with teaching and learning tools provided. At the Tertiary Level, DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU has undertaken concrete measures to upgrade the learning environment in our three major institutions in the State, notably in Abia State University, Uturu, which has led to the accreditation of many of their professional courses and increased student’s enrolment.
In the same vein, the Governor in order to achieve and ensure food availability, accessibility and affordability in the State, has evolved the following Strategic Food Security Action Plan:
• Actively engaging and supporting Agricultural activities especially in mechanized farming of Cassava, Rice and Palm Oil in line with Federal Governor’s Programmes and our State Areas of natural advantage. This is to make the prices of these commodities affordable to the people.
• Partnership with World Bank for the reactivation of the Moribund Igu Dam to ensure all year round Rice Production and sufficiency in the State.
• Participation in the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The commodities of choice for the programme are Poultry and Oil. In this regard, the State is building 3 Poultry Clusters in each of the 3 Senatorial Zones. It is expected that over 70 Poultry Houses with an average capacity of 2,000 will be built and youths aged 18 – 35 years will be trained in Poultry Production, allocated Pens and empowered to raise broilers.
The State Government has therefore reached understanding with off-takers ready, to buy 3 Million Broilers every week. Furthermore, five thousand youths will be empowered to cultivate a minimum of 1 hectare of Oil Palm in Clusters across the State. In order to key into the value chain of Oil Palm Production, processing and marketing, processing mills will be installed in each of the clusters for processing the fresh fruit bunches into high grade palm oil. Beside this, the State Government in its determined effort to revolutionize the agricultural machinery in the State, empower and enhance the standard of living of the people, has conducted the first Skills Acquisition Programmes for Mushroom Production. Further trainings will be conducted across the State in future and it is envisaged the Mushroom Production Centers will be established in the 17 Local Government Areas while the Mushroom Farm at the Headquarters of Ministry of Agriculture and the one under construction at Aba will be Centre’s of Excellence for this programme.
Finally, to facilitate Trade and Investment, the State Government under the able leadership of DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU, has embarked on the establishment of “ENYIMBA ECONOMIC CITY” along Aba Port Harcourt Express Road and all necessary licenses have been approved for this laudable project by the Federal Government of Nigeria including “Enyimba Free Trade Zone”. Without mincing words, this laudable initiative of the Governor will facilitate Trade and Investment through increased import and Export opportunities as well as transfer of Skills and Technology. It is therefore, important to note that, another milestone has been achieved in Governor VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU’S Economic Diplomacy with the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Beijing, China for a Multi-Billion Dollars Investment by the Ruyi Group, the World largest producer of garment and allied products with Enyimba Economic City. This will no doubt consolidate Abia State as the Regional Economic Hub of both South South and South East Zones of Nigeria.
With the robust nature of the Governor’s Economic Strategy, Vision and Passion for good governance, it is evidently clear that our time of economic renaissance in the South East has finally come. The wind of Globalization which is a non-reversible trend makes this Economic Renaissance imperative. This explains why the Governor deserves your vote for a landslide victory at the Polls in 2019.
Let us Trust Him Again with our votes for a credible performance!!!
TOPIC: ECONOMIC STRATEGY AND POLICY PERSPECTIVE OF DR. VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU’S TRANSFORMATION AGENDA
Commentary Written By Temple Ugwuzor – A Public Affairs Analyst.
The Economic Strategy and Policy Perspective of DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU’S Transformation Agenda is engendered and engineered by the urgent need to diversify the economy of the State and reduce dependency on oil through increased manufacturing output and value-added activities. This underscores the vision and mission of the Governor to transform Abia State into a functional Private Sector led economy, by creating opportunities for citizens, improving the quality of lives and shaping the State into a Regional Entrepreneurship Hub.
In this regard, the Governor’s Economic Transformation Agenda is based on his five pillars of Development Initiative (Micro Small Medium Enterprises, (MSMES), Trade and Commerce, Agriculture, Education and Oil & Gas). Therefore, in order to propel the calculus of Industrialization in the State, DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU in his Economic Strategy has anchored the Development Initiative of his Transformation Agenda on Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMES) as the engine of growth of the economy. The Policy Objective of this Uncommon Transformation Agenda is to unleash the potential of the Private Sector, and build a strong Private Sector that, has the resilience to compete favourably in the global and domestic macro environments. DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU has changed the narratives of performance efficiency and available economic indices of development in the State show that, Abia State is on the path of Rapid Industrialization, Economic Growth, Employment Generation, Poverty Eradication, Food Security and Sustainable Development.
In this light, it may be pertinent to outline some of the achievement of DR. VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU in line with his Policy Objective of Economic Transformation Agenda in the State:
1. Creation of an Enabling Environment to Grow the Economy of the State and enhance Sustainable Development Through:
a. Macro-economic Stability of the economy of the State.
b. Economic Security: Provision of jobs for those able and willing to work as well as security of lives and properties through proper funding, provision of vehicles, instruments and gadgets to the various Security Agencies in the State. DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEZU has undoubtedly shown the political will and commitment to deal decisively, the nagging issue of insecurity, hitherto experienced in the State. This has drastically reduced to its barest minimum, such incidents, as Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Cultism and other violent crimes.
c. Proper Legislative Provision: The synergy that exists between the Legislature and Executive in the State has engendered the enactment of Laws that promote investment in the State.
d. Proper Tax Regime and Agenda: In this regard, many laws have been reviewed, amended and new ones enacted in line with the Governor’s New Economic Agenda to liberalize the economy of the State and attract both Local and Foreign Direct Investment, by making Abia the most preferred investment destination in Nigeria. This Policy measure is currently yielding positive results in terms of investment inflow in the State.
e. Economic Reforms and Agenda that promote the removal of critical bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing business in the State as well as core institutional changes to enhance massive infrastructural development and renewal needed to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), for instance, the harmonization and digitization of tax collection by the State Government as well as the establishment of an Ultra-Modern “One-Stop-Investment House in the State to ease the problem of doing business in the State.
f. Prudent Fiscal Management to harness available resources and channel them to critical areas that would enhance productivity and output as well impact positively on the lives of the citizenry.
g. Infrastructural Development and Renewal: In line with the Governor’s Vision of Radical Transformation of Abia State, Infrastructural Landscape before the completion of his 8 Years Tenure in office, he has seriously undertaken massive road construction, re-construction and rehabilitation unparalled in the annals of history in Abia State. This has seen the completion of 67 Roads with drainages and another 94 roads currently nearing completion, all spread across the 3 Senatorial Zones in the State.
Furthermore, in order to halt the decaying infrastructure of our School System, more especially, at the Primary and Secondary Levels, the Governor embarked on the construction of 304 School Buildings out of which 112 of them have been fully furnished with ICT Equipment, Sickbay, Chairs and Desks as well as Staff Quarters to provide conducive environment for learning in our schools.
On the other note, the Abia State Health Care Delivery System has received much boost from the Governor’s Innovative Changes at the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Levels which has put Abia State on the path of becoming a Centre of Medical Excellence not only in Nigeria but in Africa. For instance, the miscellaneous interventions in the Health Sector by the Governor which bestrides all levels of care, may include: the Establishment of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) which is accessible through dedicated toll free lines for attending to unforeseen emergencies anywhere across the State. The Abia Tele-Health Service which was formerly launched across the State by the Vice President of Nigeria himself, Professor Yemi Osibanjo. Abia is officially, the first State in Nigeria to key into the Federal Government E-Health/Digital Policy passed into Law in 2016. Abia has therefore, broken the frontiers through this exemplary Health Care Initiative and gained International acclamation and recognition as the State was officially invited to speak in an International Convention on “Transforming Africa through Digitization” hosted by Smart Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, to share our experience on this project, so that, others could learn.
Definitely, DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU, from all ramifications has shown, he is a “Trail Blazer”. At this juncture, may I please, buttress this my assertion about the Governor by quoting from one of the statements made by the Vice-President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibanjo on one of his official visits to Abia State, “On each of my visits to Abia State, I see something new, something different and something innovative, I am proud of Governor OKEZIE and the passion he brings to governance. Perhaps, the greatest thing he has done, in my view is the wonderful collaboration he engineers between the Federal Government and Abia State”.
On a further note, the Government of Abia State under the Leadership of DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU through, a collaborative initiative with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and its Rural Electrification Agency has commissioned the construction of a 5 Mega Watt Power Plant to provide over 37,000 shops at the Ariaria International Market, Aba with uninterrupted Power Supply. Therefore, one can only imagine the opportunities that will be unlocked for creativity and inventions. This effort is in tandem with the Governor’s Transformation Agenda anchored on the Five Pillars of Development Initiative which is propelled by calculus of Industrialization using Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMES) as a focal point to diversify and grow the economy of the State. This underscores the Governor’s passionate and diligent promotion of Made-in Aba Products within and outside the shores of this country in International Trade Fairs. This has evidently given impetus to the Governor’s Vision of Economic Transformation Agenda in the State.
In order to engineer his comprehensive development strategy in the State, the Governor has prioritized his development initiative in the 3 Senatorial Zones based on their different areas of comparative advantage. For instance, Abia South is prioritized as the Industrial Hub of the State and Abia North as the Agro-ecological Zone or Agricultural Belt of the State while Abia Central will serve as the administrative Hub as well as a Processing Centre for agricultural products harvested in Abia North. Therefore, to give greater momentum to his Comprehensive Economic Strategy, the Governor has embarked on the Construction of a Leather and Garment Cluster at Umukalika and Industrial Park/Cluster at Ovom, both in Obingwa Local Government Area as well as an Agro-Industrial Clusters at Umuahia. This is envisaged to handle Cassava, Oil Palm, Cocoa, Rice and Cashew Processing in the 1st Phase with potential of creating One Million jobs along the value chain of production, processing and marketing.
The Governor’s Cluster Development Programme is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the Cluster Enterprises by helping them reduce business costs through technological assistance and provision of commonly shared facilities, such as electricity, water and communication. Suffice it to say, in the area of Education, the Governor has set in motion policy measures that are transforming the Educational Sector in the State and put Abia on the forefront of Educational Excellence in Nigeria. The resultant effect of these, policy measures and initiatives is that, Abia State for the 4th Year running has maintained 1st position in WAEC and NECO Examinations respectfully. This is really, a feat to be reckoned with and another feather added to the Governor’s Cap.
To fully consolidate the gains of improved performance in the Educational Sector, the Governor engaged the services of an Australian Education Group for the retraining of teachers in the State with teaching and learning tools provided. At the Tertiary Level, DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU has undertaken concrete measures to upgrade the learning environment in our three major institutions in the State, notably in Abia State University, Uturu, which has led to the accreditation of many of their professional courses and increased student’s enrolment.
In the same vein, the Governor in order to achieve and ensure food availability, accessibility and affordability in the State, has evolved the following Strategic Food Security Action Plan:
• Actively engaging and supporting Agricultural activities especially in mechanized farming of Cassava, Rice and Palm Oil in line with Federal Governor’s Programmes and our State Areas of natural advantage. This is to make the prices of these commodities affordable to the people.
• Partnership with World Bank for the reactivation of the Moribund Igu Dam to ensure all year round Rice Production and sufficiency in the State.
• Participation in the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The commodities of choice for the programme are Poultry and Oil. In this regard, the State is building 3 Poultry Clusters in each of the 3 Senatorial Zones. It is expected that over 70 Poultry Houses with an average capacity of 2,000 will be built and youths aged 18 – 35 years will be trained in Poultry Production, allocated Pens and empowered to raise broilers.
The State Government has therefore reached understanding with off-takers ready, to buy 3 Million Broilers every week. Furthermore, five thousand youths will be empowered to cultivate a minimum of 1 hectare of Oil Palm in Clusters across the State. In order to key into the value chain of Oil Palm Production, processing and marketing, processing mills will be installed in each of the clusters for processing the fresh fruit bunches into high grade palm oil. Beside this, the State Government in its determined effort to revolutionize the agricultural machinery in the State, empower and enhance the standard of living of the people, has conducted the first Skills Acquisition Programmes for Mushroom Production. Further trainings will be conducted across the State in future and it is envisaged the Mushroom Production Centers will be established in the 17 Local Government Areas while the Mushroom Farm at the Headquarters of Ministry of Agriculture and the one under construction at Aba will be Centre’s of Excellence for this programme.
Finally, to facilitate Trade and Investment, the State Government under the able leadership of DR VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU, has embarked on the establishment of “ENYIMBA ECONOMIC CITY” along Aba Port Harcourt Express Road and all necessary licenses have been approved for this laudable project by the Federal Government of Nigeria including “Enyimba Free Trade Zone”. Without mincing words, this laudable initiative of the Governor will facilitate Trade and Investment through increased import and Export opportunities as well as transfer of Skills and Technology. It is therefore, important to note that, another milestone has been achieved in Governor VICTOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU’S Economic Diplomacy with the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Beijing, China for a Multi-Billion Dollars Investment by the Ruyi Group, the World largest producer of garment and allied products with Enyimba Economic City. This will no doubt consolidate Abia State as the Regional Economic Hub of both South South and South East Zones of Nigeria.
With the robust nature of the Governor’s Economic Strategy, Vision and Passion for good governance, it is evidently clear that our time of economic renaissance in the South East has finally come. The wind of Globalization which is a non-reversible trend makes this Economic Renaissance imperative. This explains why the Governor deserves your vote for a landslide victory at the Polls in 2019.
Let us Trust Him Again with our votes for more credible performance!!!
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