Says Nkalagu cement to come on stream before Dec
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has hinted of his numerous plans to make Igboland Africa’s major industrial hub and investment destination before his death.
The Ohanaeze helmsman in an exclusive chat with Ikengaonline disclosed that plans were underway to build a befitting Sea Port and new cities in Igboland.
Chief Iwuanyanwu who is currently in the United States where he had gone to woo investors for the development of Ala Igbo, expressed delight over the successes in his engagements with Ndigbo in the diaspora and willing investors.
Ikengaonline had reported that former United States of America General William. E (Kip) Ward; and internet wizard, Dr Emmitt McHenry, were last week inducted into the Igbo nation after tracing their ancestry to the race through DNA tests.
General Ward was the first Commander of the US Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany in 2007; while Dr Emmitt is a renowned African American computer guru and the Chairman/CEO of Defense Manufacturing.
The induction ceremony was chaired by Chief Iwuanyanwu in his current trip to the US.
“Very soon we will build a sea port and new cities in Igboland. We want Igboland to be attractive, and our children to be proud of Igboland before I die.”
The Ohanaeze PG who expressed deep worry over the frustrations among Igbo youths, said conscious efforts were going on to regain their confidence and give them hope.
“A lot has been achieved so far under my watch as Ohanaeze PG. We want to give hope and future to our youths so that even after our death they will be proud of us and Igboland.
“Time has come for us to change the narrative and leave an enduring lagacy for the youths.
“We must industrialise our land and stop waiting for anybody. Now is the time.”
According to the Ohanaeze PG, part of the reason behind the spirited efforts to develop Igboland is to provide enterprising Igbo youths operating in hostile business environments outside Igboland with a conducive atmosphere to thrive at home should they wish to relocate home ward for safety.
Chief Iwuanyanwu further hinted that the committee he set up for the resuscitation of the moribund Nkalagu cement industry and other comatose factories in Igboland was working assiduously to revamp Nkalagu cement before December 2023.
He expressed delight that the ongoing efforts to revive the-once prestigious cement industry was yielding tremendous results.
Chief Iwuanyanwu expressed desire to establish more cement factories in the South-East considering the abundance of limestone, the major raw material for cement in the zone.
“We have lime stone in virtually every state in the South-East. We want more cement factories in the South-East. We can supply the whole of Africa with cement.”
He also said that part of the agenda of Ohanaeze under his watch “is to revive dead companies in Igboland including the Glass Company in Aba, and Modern Ceramics Umuahia.”
Chief Iwuanyanwu who is also an industrialist with a conglomerate of firms cutting across many sectors including aviation, construction and the media, further hinted that Ohanaeze under his watch, had been engaging with the necessary stakeholders to develop the oil and gas sector in the South-East.
“In Igboland, we are sitting on top of the largest gas reserve in Africa,” he declared, assuring that very soon some of the on-going engagements will start yielding fruits.
He also disclosed that arrangements were being solidified for massive investment in the agric sector with a lot of potentials in the zone yet to be tapped.
“With agriculture alone, we don’t even need oil anymore. By the time we start our agric revolution, Igboland will become the pride of Africa.”
Chief Iwuanyanwu further hinted that very soon Education Trust Fund headed by former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Professor Chinedu Nebo, would be inaugurated where every Igbo would be contributing only N1000 per annum for scholarship for indigent youths.
He recalled that in the early 1900s Ndigbo were educationally backward but suddenly woke up to the challenge and overtook other regions before Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
According to him the early educated Igbo sons and daughters were beneficiaries of communal scholarship scheme .
He said that his mission now was to revive such patriotic competition among Igbo people so that no youth would be denied the opportunity to acquire good education.
Chief Iwuanyanwu also said that he had already set up a committee headed by the Obi of Onitsha to harmonise Igbo cultures with a view to attracting tourists.
“We have rich cultures in our various communities. We want to harmonise them so that possibly every week there will be cultural carnivals in different communities. Tourists from all over the world will be visiting to have fun, and our children in the diaspora will be coming with their friends also. With this, we shall make Igboland a highly desired region.”
