Okonjo-Iweala, Anyaoku, Ngige, Elumelu, others for S-East Economic Summit
ON September 9, 2016
12:15 AM / IN News /
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By Emeka Mamah
ENUGU—Arrangements for an economic summit for the South East geopolitical zone has been completed by the South East Leadership and Development Initiative, SELDI. This came as the South East Youth Economic Summit, SEYES, first ever maiden edition has been slated for October 2016.

Among those who would speak during the SELDI event to be chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu in Enugu are the immediate past Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; former Secretary to the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Sen. Ben Murrey Bruce; former Central Bank Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo; Mr Tony Elumelu and Mr Oscar Onyema.
Others include the former Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu; Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; the former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh; Dr Orji Uzor Kalu; Senator Hope Uzodinma; Rear Admiral Ebitu Ukiwe (retd); former Governor of Lagos State, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retd) and Mazi Peter Ejiofor.
They also include Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi; Prof. Pat Utomi; Mrs Oby Ezekwesili; Prof. Emeagwali; former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi; Chimamanda Adichie and Ndidi Nwaneli among others.

Former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife and chairman of SELDI Council, who spoke at a press briefing in Enugu, said the aim of the summit entitled, “Think Home and Build Home,” was aimed at enlightening the people of the zone to invest at home.

According to him, “It is time for Ndigbo to think home and build home. It has become imperative for the people to reflect more deeply about their future and strategic essence in the larger Nigerian community.”
Ezeife decried the “deplorable infrastructural state of the South East region,” as well as “the huge gaps in infrastructural development, economic growth, political and social transformation in the region compared to other regions,” due to lack of federal attention saying that the situation must be redressed by the people themselves.

He, however, bemoaned the situation, whereby Igbo entrepreneurs were busy developing other places instead of their own areas, since their own “charity does not begin at home but abroad.

Commendable. Development is not an easy process. It requires commitment, determination, ingenuity. If only they would be committed. I would start arranging some development ideas and see if it's possible to pass them across.

Kudos, hope it pulls through.

It's really time to think home and see how far we can help our people especially in Imo State.

A brake in proliferation of hotels and a campaign for Industrialisation (factories, manufacturing Industries) of Imo State to provide employment for our teeming youths is a task I promise to drive and so help me God.

Five investors in hospitality and tourist industry can come together to build a FMCG factory, that's what we will drum to their ears until they start listening. The time for sole proprietorship is fast giving way for partnership and joint ventures.

Anyukota mmamiri onu, y'agba ufufu.

When the clown president plus the afonja destroy the economy they are now begging the Igbo to help their government

This is a major move. Much success.

What I would like the summit to consider is viability of an interstate railway line (preferably Onitsha to Aba) and gas power generation

Afonja with their divisive blood seeing Tony Elumelu and Pat Utomi on the list will say...they are SS.Lol.

Serious matter

Someone help me here is Ben Bruce Igbo. Last time I checked he was born to Ijaw parents.

That summit is nonsense if FFK and Fayose are not present. They need to emulate and learn from those guys