Enugu State Government has urged Enugu citizens to think home and invest at home to boost job creation and economic growth of the state
The Deputy Governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, made the call on Wednesday, during Agbaja Investment Summit organised by the Agbaja Leaders of Thought in Enugu with the theme “Building Our Legacies”.
Agbaja people are mainly from Udi and Ezeagu local government areas, but spread across other local government areas like Oji-River, Igboetiti, Enugu North, Enugu South and Enugu East local government areas.
Ezeilo, who hails from Amokwe in Udi local government area, Agbajaland, said: “Our people across the globe must begin to tilt towards investing at home.
“In this era, this generation must give due attention to investing at home for the real growth and development of our land and our people.
“Set up your factories, bonded warehouses and private educational institutions in Agbajaland so that our people can get jobs.
“This will result in higher standard of living for all Agbaja people”, Ezeilo said.
She called on prospective investors to take advantage of the state’s enabling environment and state government’s Free-Trade-Zone , ease of doing business to invest in Agbajaland.
“The real truth is that tremendous opportunities exist for exploit in Agbajaland that will transform lives of her people,” she said.
In his welcome address, the chairman of Agbaja Investment and former Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, said Agbajaland had accomplished men and women who left their marks in every sphere of life.
He said that the summit would dwell more on means and strategies to harness the copious human capital and natural resources at its disposal to achieve economic development for the wellbeing of the people.
He said that Agbajaland was blessed with vast expanse land especially in Ezeagu basin.
He added that experience has shown that astute and strategic investment in agriculture and free trade zone have always triggered rapid and massive economic and industrial development anywhere in the world.
“I pray that we as a people will key into the house free trade and available resources to free our people from poverty and unlock the hidden potentials of the land.
He thanked the organisers and sponsors of the summit for initiating the programme, He urged all Agbaja sons and daughters to unite for the common good of the people.
In his keynote address, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and chairman, Agbaja Leaders of Thought Board of Trustees, Prof Chinedu Nebo, said Agbajaland had so many potentials for remarkable investment The area serves as international gateway for South East as people travelling to Benue, Kogi, Asaba, Portharcourt, Uyo and Anambra.
He added that the people of Agbaja had different business opportunities and tourist site that can add value to people’s lives if harnessed.
The former Minister of Power said the group was a non-partisan group, investment, economic, development, cultural heritage and tourism in Agbajaland.
“It is also a site for shooting Nollywood movies due to its landscape which has contributed to the nation’ economy”, he said.
On investment in education, Nebo said that any university or polytechnic that are not key into practical experience would become obsolete and die with time.
“People now acquire extra certificates on on practical and in Germany, once you study in a university, they will attach you to an industry for practical experiences,” Nebo said.
The event featured mentoring of youths on entrepreneurship and presentation of awards to Nigeria Breweries Plc and Chime.
It also attracted so many prominent sons and daughters of Agbaja.
