By Lukman Amusa
The World Igbo Congress (WIC) has invited all governors, senators, members of House of Representatives and other stakeholders from Southeast to its 2019 convention to discuss the Ruga debacle and other security threats facing the region. The topic for this year’s discourse is WIC at 25: Bracing up for challenges ahead. The venue of the convention is the Holiday Inn Houston SW-Sugar Land, 11160 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas, USA.
In a release signed by WIC Public Relations Officer, Basil Onwukwe, the Chairman, Prof Anthony Ejiofor, Executives, and the Board of Directors said at the convention holding between Friday, August 30 and Sunday, September 1, stakeholders would discuss the future of Igboland, their homeland and strengthening regional ties and contiguity. They will speak on youth and women empowerment project in the region.
The announcement comes after a think tank of like minds comprising Igbo intellectuals, professionals and stakeholders under the auspices of Nzuko Umunna, extolled the leadership qualities of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State as well as his administration’s remarkable achievements in transforming the state as a model of peace and good governance. The group which felicitated with Ugwuanyi on his re-election, noted with delight the peace, political harmony and development trajectory he has brought to bear on the state’s governance.
Speaking when members of the Think Tank paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi, the leader of delegation, Prof. Bath Nnaji, told the governor that they were impressed “with pride that Enugu State, under your leadership, continues to rank among the most secure and peaceful states”. Prof. Nnaji added that members of the group, including the former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Methodist Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese, Most Rev. Christopher Ede and former Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, among others, appreciate with pride that Enugu State under the leadership of Gov. Ugwuanyi “is one of the highest-ranking solvent states in Nigeria and was rated by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) as one of the eight financially stable states a few months ago”.
According to him, “we are proud of Enugu’s ranking by the World Bank Ease of Doing Business survey as the third best place to start business among the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory. The leader of the delegation disclosed that the visit was symbolic and a veritable platform for them to pledge their support and friendship and seek ways of partnering with the state government to contribute their quota towards the optimal actualisation and implementation of its economic and development agenda for Enugu State.
Prof. Nnaji, who presented the group’s recommendations on key areas of priority to Gov. Ugwuanyi, stressed that their constructive and strategic engagement with his administration will help Enugu State to fully achieve its potentials and “outperform yourself in your second tenure”. He disclosed that they are also simultaneously engaging other governors and leaders of the South East geopolitical zone “for a fast-tracked development of the South East geopolitical zone”, expressing delight that the governors already have a flourishing forum. Other members of the delegation include Dr. Uju Agomoh, Secretary, Strategy Committee; Mr. Uche Anichukwu, Secretary, Team Enugu; Rev Fr. Nnaemeka Udeonu; Prof. Chika More; Dr Okobo Paul Onyia; Mazi Bede Okoye; Obioma Okoye; Dr Kachi Nworga; Dr Alex Ogbonnia; Mr Ken onyekaonwu; Chief Everest Ozonweke and Mazi Charles Ogbu.
