By James Eze
The efforts of Governor Willie Obiano to reposition
Anambra State as the new investment hub in West
Africa are beginning to yield amazing results as the
state attracted a whopping $520m investment in the
outgone week. The investments came largely into the
two key areas that make up the governor’s Four Pillars
of Development, namely Agriculture and Trade and
Commerce. The other two Pillars are Industrialization
and Oil & Gas.
What is currently looking like Anambra’s day in the
investment sun began at midweek with a tripartite
agreement which the state government signed with the
management of Delfarm Limited and Songhai Regional
Centre from Benin Republic for specific agricultural
projects valued at $200m (about N15bn). This was
followed up at the weekend with another agreement
with a consortium known as the West Africa
Intercontinental Trade Centre Ltd which signed for the
construction of an International Modern Market to be
located in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area at an
estimated value of $320m for the first phase of the
project.
These two agreements have moved the government
very close to its projected investment inflow of $1.9bn
before the end of this year. So far, Anambra has
attracted almost $1bn in investments in the last six
months averaging $100m investments per month.
These investments justify, in concrete terms, Governor
Willie Obiano’s reputation as an entrepreneurial
banker and a technocrat of note who understands the
terrain of high-wired business and the best steps to
take to bring the investment world to his doorsteps.
In real terms, the Delfarm Limited/Songhai Farms
project is expected to generate 150,000 jobs and cut
down the rate of unemployment in Anambra and the
neighbouring states. The agricultural project is a fully
integrated framework that combines agriculture,
technology, industry and services with a sustainable
working system and seeks to create training and
empowerment centres for the youths. On the other
hand, the proposed International Market in Ogbunike
is designed to accommodate an ultra-modern
shopping mall, an industrial park, education and
medical facilities as well as a modern entertainment
centre. The project will be executed in phases with the
first phase creating about 6000 jobs and 12,000 indirect
jobs.
Anambra’s rising profile as the haven for investments
in sub-Saharan Africa actually began in May this year
when the Coscharis Group made a massive entry into
the state’s agricultural sector with $200m investment in
a farm settlement, (the Coched Farms Project) in
Anakau, Ayamelum Local Government Area. Since then,
Anambra has continued to attract investors as the
Obiano administration digs in to force through its
reform programmes that are intended to lift the state
up to its rightful position as the home of
entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa.
Since the arrival of Coched Farms, other agro-investors
have followed suit. Joseph Agro Limited, Ekcel Farms
Limited had penned down a $150m agreement to take
over the lucrative Omor Rice Mill and farm settlement
while Ekcel Farms had signed in $100 million for the
production of cassava and tomato in the state. Grains
and Silos Limited has also signed another MoU valued
at S11 million for a Silos project and finally, Delfarm/
Songhai Farms have also moved in. Other investors like
Royal Farms and a host of others are all in line to move
into Anambra. There are also talks about a high-level
collaboration between the Anambra State Government
and some agricultural authorities in Bangkok, Thailand,
that will finally divvy up Governor Obiano’s promised
agricultural revolution in Anambra State. The state has
also attracted investments in the area of tourism with
Cardinal Developers and Trust Limited leading the
charge in that sector with a considerable financial
outlay.
Right at the heart of the investment revolution in
Anambra State is the pivotal role of the Anambra State
Investment Promotion and Protection Agency
(ANSIPPA) which is staffed with seasoned investment
bankers and financial experts. This agency has made
the process of documentation and other otherwise
tedious processes of doing business in Anambra State
look like a walk in the park. This has encouraged
prospective investors who are familiar with the huge
markets and great human capital that Anambra has in
abundance.
It would be recalled that flagging off this year’s farming
season in a ceremony at Nteje, Oyi Local government
in May this year, governor Obiano had firmly set the
agenda for his agricultural revolution. Underscoring
the importance of agriculture to Ndigbo in his speech
at the event, Chief Obiano had recalled that “From time
immemorial, our ancestors judged a man by the
strength of his arm. A man who could not feed his
family was regarded as an efulefu! A failure! That tells
us how important farming and agriculture in general
was and will always be to our people.” Setting his sight
on the possibilities of Agriculture contributing at least
40% of the GDP of Anambra State, Governor Obiano
declared, “this year, we shall force the doors of
agricultural productivity open in Anambra State.”
While it may be too early to say that Obiano has forced
the door of agricultural productivity open in Anambra
State what is however not in doubt is the fact that he
has forced the door of investments open to both local
and foreign entrepreneurs. And Anambra State is the
better for it.

Source: Facebook (November, 2014)

Mr. Peter Obaino is actually applying his astute banking principles in the management of Anamra State.
The huge inflow of investment is commendable but all we Anambarians hope for is the effective utilisation of these Funds into the necessary sector so Investors can see their return and the society feel its impact!

We also want to see improved investments from our local investors. Anambra state has Entrepreneurs, Traders and Importers, Philantrophists who are billionaires and now there abounds maximum security in the state, we request that this revered citizens contribute to the growth and development of Anambra State

proudly Anambrarian.

Omor rice mill has been in the news since time immemorial. The story have not changed yet. From federal govt to state govt and now to private investor. When will the mill start processing and packaging of rice? These lies don plenty abeg

Amanwulu1:
proudly Anambrarian.

Anywhere, Anytime, Anyday.... I Will never forget my identity

Zonacom:
Omor rice mill has been in the news since time immemorial. The story have not changed yet. From federal govt to state govt and now to private investor. When will the mill start processing and packaging of rice? These lies don plenty abeg

Very soon, the Omor Rice Mill will soon swing to full operation.... Funds for the execution of the project are now available.... Obaino is a man of his words!!! The people of Omor will find happiness soonest