Southeast on a path to accelerated growth—Ekwunife
The South East Governors’ Forum, SEGOF has taken bold step to engage the United Kingdom, UK to tackle insecurity and broaden development in the region.
Director General of the South East Governors’ Forum, Senator Uche Ekwunife while playing host to the British High Commission delegates led by the UK Political Consular, Tom Burger said the forum is working hard to restore normalcy in the region.
The meeting focused on pressing security challenges in the Southeast region and potential areas for collaboration where Ekwunife disclosed that the South East Governors have initiated various policies that are fast festering peace and stability in the region.
“The region’s abundant natural resources and fertile land present opportunities for exploration and development.
To further boost economic activities, the governors are constructing mega cities and industrial city parks. These projects will serve as magnets for businesses, creating employment opportunities, and stimulating growth in key sectors and dissuade the youths from engaging in criminality.
The SEGOF boss further disclosed: “South East region is poised for transformative growth under the leadership of its governors. The fast-tracking of developmental projects and the focus on regional concerns; infrastructure, power, security, education, agriculture and economic growth will create a vibrant and prosperous region for all its citizens.
“SEGOF is working on a regional system of apprenticeship where certain number of young men will be selected from each state and train in the art of business after which they will be empowered to start up their own business. In doing so, we will be churning out millionaires every year from all the states within the South East and it will end this insecurity.
She however lamented that the insecurity in the region nosedived when criminal elements and hoodlums hijacked genuine agitation of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB but expressed optimism that the governors have risen to tackle insecurity by the regional security network and deployment of modern security gadgets to rid the region of criminal elements.
“The governors in their regional security programme have put everything in place and it’s a matter of few months, the region would become safe again for people to move freely anytime any day as criminals would be swept away as it will become very difficult for criminals to commit crime in one state and run to hide in another state because the criminal will be fished out.
In the areas of power and education, Ekwunife told the UK delegates that the governors understand the importance of reliable power supply for economic development, hence the governors’ resolve to have uninterrupted power supply and make power affordable to the people. She said the governors are working on model unity schools in each of the state with specific area of specialization to boost education in the region.
“This initiative is a measure taken by the governors in the region to boost power supply while leveraging on the transfer of electricity from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. The Light Up Initiative, an intervention programme by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC in collaboration with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC), aims at providing steady and reliable power supply to industrial and business clusters in the South East.
“South East governors understand the importance of regional cooperation and they have bonded so well that they are bonded by religion, culture, language and passion and they understand the importance of working together that not even political affiliation is a barrier.
While eulogizing the governors under the leadership of the Imo State govenor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Ekwunife commended Uzodimma for his sterling leadership and ability to unite the South East Governors irrespective of party differences.
Ekwunife further used the opportunity to solicit for a cost friendly and lenient visa processing approach for the people of the region by the UK visa centre in Enugu, stressing that Igbos are more of business people who mostly need visa for business trip after which they return to Nigeria.
Earlier, Mr. Tom Burger expressed concerns over his recent visit to
Umuahia, Abia State where he observed a significant presence of security
personnel and numerous checkpoints, while lamenting rising cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Mr. Burger who acknowledged the issues raised by the SEGOF boss said he had taken note of her concerns and assured her that he would communicate them to appropriate authority for consideration.
Tom Burger was accompanied by 2nd Secretary, Wendy Shepard and Second secretary political office,Tom Simpson among others.
