Dr Uche Ogah’s Motivation

GREAT IMO JONATHAN

In the First Republic, the Igbo nation made enviable progress through qualitative and coherent leadership, organizational cohesion. They had a quality plan which resulted to fiscal and industrial development, superb educational system, good governance, integrity in political office, and so forth.

This solid foundation was laid before the inception of the First Republic, courtesy of the Igbo State Union and leaders of thought. Notably, government initiatives adequately encouraged farming and other allied produce for food and export. Thus, items such as rice, yam, cassava, cocoyam, vegetables, palm produce and cashew nuts were readily and ordinarily the mainstay of the economy. It was essentially on these that Eastern Nigerian economy thrived and expanded to become the largest growing economy in Africa, just between 1957 to 1967.

The Eastern Nigerian government had a clear vision which was progressive, and complementary to the nation of the Igbo State Union.

As a result, the Eastern Nigerian Development Corporation (ENDC) was established, which became a tool through which series of development projects emerged , including: University of Nigeria Nsukka, Aba Textile Mills, Shoe Industry Owerri, Nigercem Nkalagu, Enamel Plate Industry Umuahia, golden Guinea Brewery Umuahia, Obudu Cattle Ranch, Glass Company Port Harcourt, Ulonna Farm Settlement, Niger Steel Company Emene, African Continental Bank (ACB), Hotel Presidential Enugu and Port Harcourt, Co-operative Bank of Eastern Nigeria Ltd (Co-operative and Commerce Bank). These and many other developmental strides were achieved within a ten year period 1957-1967.

Dr Uche Ogah is motivated by these exceptional achievements of the Igbo founding fathers. He believes that much more can be achieved by this generation of Igbo men and women if we put their minds to work.

In demonstration of this belief, Dr Uche Ogah has established a world class industrial city in onuaku, Abia State. His industrial city is located on thousands of hectares of land with 12 industries therein. He had earlier established an industrial city in Port Harcourt known as Energy City. In total, he currently employs over 18,000 workers directly and indirectly.

Further to his personal efforts at bringing development to Abia State, South East and Nigeria, his plan for Abia’s development is here stated.

His document spells out what and what needs to be done in every sector and geography of Abia state in order to realize its potentials.

Based on his economic philosophy of Home Grown Industrialization, with the caption ‘’Industrializing” an emerging economy like Abia state; he highlighted the areas the state has potentials to attract investment, including:

(i) Agro-Allied Industries:
Cassava starch and flour
Fruits and vegetables canning

(ii) Textiles:
Cotton socks
Fishing nets
Mosquito nets

(iii) Industrial Minerals/Quarrying:
Glass industry
Table ware
Aggregate plant (stone crushing plant)

(iv) Plastic Industry:
Plastic manufacture
Bottles, flask, cans, tubes, tiles

(v) Chemical Industry:
Polyethylene
Explosives
Self-Adhesive Tape
Pulp and paper

(vi) Oil and Gas

To quicken the pace of industrial development, Dr Uche Ogah has a plan to embark on direct industrial establishments and to enter into joint ventures with entrepreneurs in the private sector. Thus: his plan will be public partnership and private sector driven.

Dr Uche Ogah in his plan recognizes Aba, the famed commercial capital of south eastern Nigeria, as possessing the expertise and savvy to reproduce any technological product manufactured anywhere in the world. He made it known that skilled and unskilled manpower abound in Abia State, while raw materials for vast array of products are readily available.

Dr Uche Ogah’s vision for the state is to reclaim Aba’s dominance in clothing, shoes, bags, and raw materials market for West Africa, Central Africa sub regions and other foreign markets.

His vision also includes 12 brand new world class industrial parks as follows:

1. Abala Technology Incubation Center (22.42acres)

2. Enyimba 1 Industrial Fashion Heartland, Osisioma (78 acres)

3. Enyimba 2 Inter-model Business Park, Obingwa (90 acres)

4. Ukwa Marine Industrial City, which will include an Export Processing Zone, Azumini (22.42 acres)

5. Alayi Axial Industrial hub (22.42 acres)

6. Eco Industrial Park/Organic Fertilizer, Umuahia (90 acres)

7. Arochukwu Industrial hub (78 acres)

8. Umunnochi Industrial heartland (90 acres)

9. Isikwuato Axial Industrial Hub (22.42 acres)

10. Ikwuano industrial Hub 90 acres)

11. Isiala Ngwa- Industrial Hub (22.42 acres)

12. Ohafia-Nkporo-Abiriba Industrial Hub (90 acres)

Above these, Dr Uche Ogah has plans for three Eco-Industrial Parks. This is a sector of industrial ecology, which draws analogies from natural ecosystems to human industrial systems. These eco-industrial parks will bring environmental, social and economic benefits: environmental consciousness, development, jobs, foreign Direct Investments, etc.

Beyond industrial development, Dr Uche Ogah says we can fast-track development in Abia State through balanced investment in:
• Infrastructural development (roads, bridges, rail, water ways, sea port, airport, street lights, markets, motor parks)
• Agriculture
• Education
• Health
• Erosion control
• Environment and Forest reserves
• Mining
• Peace and Security
• Export
• Youth employment
• Population explosion control
• Artband Culture
• Entertainment
• Sports
• ICT
• Housing
• Manufacturing
• Tourism and hospitality
• Urban renewal
• Energy supply
• State interconnectivity
• Etc

The good thing is that Dr Uche Ogah has the skill on financial reengineering, he understands how to generate funds for this proposed rapid development of Abia State.

He has the experience, the vision and the passion to make Abia the envy of nations.

That is Dr Uche Ogah’s motivation!