By Nnaji | 06 Sep, 2024 09:44:42am | 211
As a Social Entrepreneur actively involved in non partisan Socio-Economic-Political activities of the Igbo Nation for the past 35 years, I have observed certain negative characteristics amongst many Igbos, notably: (a) Feelings of deliberate Political and Economic Marginalization of Igbos by other Nigerians. (b) Internalization of the belief that other Nigerians hate and do not love the Igbos for no other reason than that they are Igbos. This appears to have led to inferiority complex, despondency, low morale, self doubt, amongst these class of Igbos, which in turn has created an enabling environment for Separatism(Agitation for the Republic of Biafra), and cries for the development of the Igbo Nation by the Federal Government of Nigeria (South East Development Commission).
From my readings of the history of nations, I believe that successful nations focus on earning the respect of other nations by their actions and not by being loved, and sub nationals in a federation can only truly develop sustainably through strategic actions of the leadership and commitment by the people, and not through handouts or love by the international community and/or the Federal Government in the case of Nigeria. Having agonized personally for some time on the current state of the Igbo nation - Insecurity, Shortest working Week in the World, Poverty, etc, I decided to publicly share my thoughts and perspective with Ndigbo on the Sustainable Development of the Igbo Nation.
Luckily as I was going through relevant books in my personal library, I came across a small book titled:
THE SOUTH EAST TODAY: THE WAY FORWARD.
A Public Lecture by Prof A. O. E. Animalu, Under the Auspices of the Conference of Democratic Scholars (CODES)
And
A Collection of Related Treaties by the Nsukka Analyst, Dr. Chris Ngige, and Dr. E. N. C. Osakwe on Contemporary Issues.
Edited by: Prof. A. O. E. Animalu, Prof. P. O. Ngoddy, and Prof. P. A. Nwachukwu.
The book is grouped in 4 sections:
(i) Demarginalization Through Science and Education & Activity by Prof A. O. E. Animalu.
(ii) Igbo Leadership by The Nsukka Analyst Group.(Membership: Bar. F. D. Agusiegbe, Prof. S. N. Anika, Prof. A.O. E. Animalu, Prof. G. Igboeli, Prof. N. I. Ikpeze, Prof. P. O. Ngoddy, Dr. B. N. Okwuosa, Prof. P. I. Uche, Rev. Fr. Dr. Panta Umechukwu, and Mr. Cele Uwaechie, ).
(iii) Economic Empowerment For Ndigbo by Dr. Chris Ngige, President, Aka Ikenga. Paper presented at the World Igbo Congress 4th Annual Conference, New York, USA, on 29th August August, 1997.
(iv) Uchu Ndigbo (Between Perseverance and Perfidy) by Dr. E. N. C. Osakwe. A Public Lecture Delivered in Benin City on May Day, 2003.
This Book, published in 2003, before the advent of Artificial Intelligence, and IPOB in the South East, became the foundation for this write up, and is relevant today for the Igbo Nation, as it was 21 years ago, and should be a MUST READ for Igbo Leadership at all levels. A snippet of relevant actions contained in the book are:
(a) Establishment of a Technology Triangle in the South East incorporating Research Institutes, and Universities located in the South East, and the Metallurgical Complex in Aba, which had millions of dollars worth of Machine Tools with very long life spans still in crates brought in by Asika’s East Central State Government from the then Czechoslovakia. The chief advocate for the Triangle was Dr. Isaac Nnadi, then Director General of SEDI, Enugu, Coincidentally, I have also brought to the attention of Dr. Alex Otti, present Governor of Abia State, the enormous potentials of these machine tools for South East development if put in proper use.
(b) Asking Traders Associations to adopt as part of their bye-law , the attainment of JSS-3 as the minimum qualification a child should obtain before engagement as an apprentice. In a town like Alor in Idemili LGA, Anambra State, the Town Union has made it mandatory that any trader wishing to engage a child as an apprentice trader must first train the child at his own expense up to JSS-3 before engaging him.
For the needed urgent Sustainable Development of the South East, my humble suggestion is that Ndigbo if we are truly smart and resilient as some of us claim that we are, We should COMMIT to:
1. Taking our destiny in our own hands and stop waiting for external help, be it foreign or local. We should however strive to provide the enabling environment for investment both internal and external in the South East.
2. Ensuring at all costs that the right leadership is in place at all levels - National Ohanaeze Ndigbo, State Governments, Local Governments, Local Communities, and constantly hold the leadership ACCOUNTABLE to the Igbo Nation.
3. An Actionable Roadmap for Sustainable Development of South East at all levels- National Ohanaeze Ndigbo , South East Region, State Governments, Local Governments, Local Communities, guided by
(a) THE REPORT OF THE SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS SUMMIT ON ECONOMY AND SECURITY (2023) and
(b) THE SOUTH EAST TODAY: THE WAY FORWARD (2003) , which shows expected deliverables from the Leadership and the People, and will be reviewed annually.
For example at the People level, regular provision of pro bono services by qualified citizens in strategic sectors such as Values Reorientation, Education, and Health should be the norm. For a start, I will suggest that the Planning and Strategy Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in partnership with serious and focused Igbo Organizations such as Anya-Ndi-Igbo, Nzuko Umunna, Aka Ikenga, and the South East Governors Forum should plan to host a Retreat before the end of October 2024, which will have in attendance Secretary to the State Governments, Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries of Strategic Ministries from the 5 South East States, and the main objective is to produce a Framework for the South East Sustainable Roadmap.
For effectiveness, all the participants should receive copies of “The Report of the South East Governors Summit on Economy and Security”, and “The South East Today: The Way Forward”, at least two weeks before the Retreat.
“When we Fight, We Win” is Senator Kamala Harris, Vice President of USA, and the Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, clarion call to her supporters for victory in this year’s national elections. For Ndigbo, let our motivation for the urgent sustainable development of the Igbo nation be the slogan, “ WHEN WE ACT, WE WIN”. Ndigbo, Enough of Talking and Complaining, Let the Action begin.
Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju.
Past Deputy President-General,
Ndigbo Lagos.
Friday, 6th September, 2024.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *