Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah had said that his administration was fully committed to identifying and nurturing sectors with high investment potentials, including agriculture, tourism, technology, real estate, and energy which not only offer profitable opportunities but also align with the developmental priorities of the state.
Mbah stated this during Diaspora, Invest in South-East Nigeria for a great future, “Aku ruo ulo,” a sensitisation and advocacy programme aimed at promoting diaspora investment potentials in the South-East.
The event, which attracted many stakeholders from the South-East was organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, and hosted by the Enugu State Government at the old government lodge Enugu.
Governor Peter Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said his administration has several initiatives available for the state’s diasporan community to leverage, including the New Enugu City, the newly established Enugu State Electricity Market, the Special Agro-Processing Zones, the newly completed ICT Center, and Enugu Transport Terminal, among many others, which according to him, offer excellent opportunities for collaboration and growth, further strengthening the bonds between the diaspora and the state.
Commending the initiative, Dr. Mbah said the state is confident that its ongoing efforts in tax and revenue harmonisation, business environment reforms, and land reforms will ensure that Enugu remains an attractive destination for investment.
While noting that the opportunities are vast and that unlocking the full potential of diaspora investments requires strong collaboration, the governor said It is a shared responsibility between the government, the private sector, and the diaspora community to foster trust, ensure transparency, and create robust mechanisms that streamline and facilitate seamless investment processes.
He encouraged those in Diaspora to support the government in building an environment where investment thrives, driving sustainable growth and development for everyone.
He recognised and commended the outstanding work of NiDCOM for its continued efforts in engaging Nigerians in the diaspora, fostering meaningful participation in policies, projects, and initiatives, describing it as instrumental to the socio-economic development of the nation.
Earlier, the chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who advocated the establishment of diaspora desk across the 17 local government areas of Enugu state, described the Igbos as special people, saying Nigerians still remain the best in the world, and commended Governor Peter Mbah for making Enugu a place to be called a home.
She encouraged the South-Easterners in Diaspora to think home in their investment plans, stating that there are enormous investment opportunities in Enugu State as well as the entire South-East region.
Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora matters, Mrs Olangwa Ezekwu, said South-East has a great role to play in channeling its resources home especially as many look forward to returning home yearly.
She said Governor Mbah has made Enugu an investor-friendly state, saying there was no better time than now to invest more at home and use the wide network of contacts and resources to boost the socio-economic development in Enugu State.
