Chinenye Nwaogu, adviser to the former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, on social investment, has said that the South East needs critical integrated infrastructure to excel more.
In an interview with journalists, he said that Igbo needs to look inwards and start building from the region.
To do this, he said Igbo should articulate a framework on how to build an economically viable region that will be the envy of all.
One of the greatest handicaps every government seems to be lamenting is on funding. Is there anyway out?
Government remains at least in our clime the greatest structure to mobilize resources for massive development. It requires leadership that’s visionary and positively motivated. I often say that motive is at the bedrock of all human endeavors. With the right motive, many other enabling factors will fall into place. Funding for development is available, both locally and internationally, but you must have the right network, framework, template, plan, programmes, capacity and language to attract them to your clime. Funds and such other resources are not emotional entities they gravitate towards values. I sat in many international conversations focused on investment drive. Government has the capacity, if rightly motivated and led, to set in motion the process of creating that value. So money is not the problem; most times the problem is that plans are not backed by adequate values and when these institutions run the numbers, they do not see the alignment between motive, values and improvement in the livelihood of the people.
In another way, resources available through established channels to government is not enough to tackle critical socio-economic developmental needs facing governments that is why it must think outside the box to leverage other people’s money or what is known as OPM to create massive opportunities for everyone the citizens and investing stakeholders.
There’s lots of Igbo across the globe doing extremely well. How do we tap from their resources and human capacity to build Igbo land?
Like I said earlier if value proposition is clear and transparent there are resources governments can tap into; some of them requires policy and legislative adjustments. A country like India today relies heavily on diaspora remittances for major infrastructure and socio-economic development programmes and projects. I can also tell you that Igbo and indeed Nigerian diaspora remittances is huge but the system doesn’t have sufficient and smart gatekeeping mechanism to trap and channel these into economic building blocks for development.
Many Igbo outside the shores of Nigeria and even those within Nigeria are very willing if the right environment and framework is created to contribute to the development of Igboland which to me is something that has become not just a necessity but the only way out of the situation we have found ourselves. But you know these funds are private funds earned mostly through hard-work; so nobody will throw it away on the alter of emotion and love for fatherland. They must see value.
Currently we are working with some smart and talented minds to see the possibility of floating a DFI for entrepreneurship, industrialisation, infrastructure development ofaIbo.land. If you look at what’s happening at Alaigbo you will sense the anxiety and frustration amongst the youths who are mostly unemployed and unempowered. The current structure and size of our acclaimed successful entrepreneurship mechanism can no longer resolve the obvious problems facing the multitude of youths who are almost hopeless at the moment, so that system needs to be expanded and institutionalized.
Alaigbo needs critical integrated infrastructure like gas, railway, roads, power, industrial parks, free trade zones and access to the sea and international market place. That is why projects like Enyimba Economic City Development Projects, Geometric and such other projects must be supported. But a more robust and integrated approach would serve Alaigbo better. The “Okeke and sons” mentality must give way to something more robust and collective.
So a fund managed by our best minds and hands, raised by all willing igbos warehoused outside the shores of Nigerian and following the best practice may be a way out for Ndigbo.
How do we tackle insecurity in Igbo land?
Insecurity has become the biggest elephant in the room across Nigeria and a major clog in the wheel of progress. Like I have always said, insecurity in Nigerian is multifaceted but the most causative factor is economic. Majority of our people are unnecessarily individually poor in the face of massive resources. In Alaigbo economic factor is one but the aggression and anxiety in Igbo land is occasioned mostly because of the lopsided structure of Nigeria that has made Igbo endangered species across Nigeria, the marginalization created anxiety and near absence of federal presence, tactical exclusion of Igbo youths in national employment and empowerment opportunities.
Unemployment created an army of idle youths who are ready recruits for restive activities. After the war, the policy of currency redesign caused a lot of economic dislocation in Alaigbo. The entire place entered a survival of the fittest mood. The current responses seem not to be robust enough to assuage the current situation. So the solution requires political, economic and institutional approaches to tackle the hydra headed problem.
Many governors have advocated for state policing system. There should be a measure of localizing intelligence gathering, policing and law enforcement. There must be a deliberate attempt to restructure Nigeria in order to assure citizens especially Ndigbo that they truly are part of Nigeria. This must be demonstrated in clear actions, policies and programmes not just by mere rhetorics.
Of course, the most current is the need to find a political solution to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu challenge. Many have called for his unconditional release and I support that. I do not think this is a very big sacrifice or price for the Federal Government to pay in the face of the daunting challenge in the South East. When you juxtapose his case with other agitators from other sections of the country, it may appear that there is no level playing ground.
My former boss harped on the need to engage the energies of the youths, their bubbling energy needs to be deployed positively. So this brings back the immediate need to industrialize the place so that the youths will have solid alternative to delinquent and restive activities. Igbo youths are entrepreneurial, ingenuous, energetic I feel most of them juts want a source of livelihood. What they seem to face is a situation of near hopelessness and it may appear that not much planning is in the works to resolve the contradictions.
Under such circumstances they would seek ways to take their destinies in their own hands. Their approach may naturally run counter to lawful processes and procedures. If you look at the level of militarization and presence of other law enforcement agencies in the South East it is major source of concern, on the other hand you cannot leave ungoverned or unpoliced territories. You cannot also overlook the alleged political nature of some of these security breaches. So it’s a major concern that requires concerted efforts by key stakeholders.
While I salute the efforts of all stakeholders, more need to be done creatively to resolve the quagmire. In addition there is need to leverage intelligence gathering mechanisms and structures. But the problem is quite surmountable if approach steps are taken. Overall Alaigbo has unimaginable capacity for growth and sustainable development but there is work to be done.
Igbo land seems to be in disarray. What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Igbo man today?
Igbo land has many challenges; some are offshoots of primary challenge. But from benefit of hindsight, the major challenge of Igboland is unity of purpose and direction. To achieve this, Igbo need a well intentioned and motivated leadership that will be altruistic and visionary enough to mobilised abundant resources human and material to pursue a pan Igbo agenda devoid of politics, selfishness and other considerations. Igbos have everything they need, but the lack of unity of purpose and the leadership or platform to coordinate things is a big problem.
The saying “Igbo enweghi Eze” hasn’t helped us. We pride ourselves as being republican in nature, sometimes that can be a great disadvantage. All over the world Igbo are doing exploits in many fields, back home in Nigeria Igbo are doing exploits in many enterprises, but there needs to be a clear cut agenda and programme to leverage these capacities to develop Alaigbo. In private enterprise Igbo are doing so well; unfortunately that hasn’t reflected so well in our political space. We need to bridge that gap, because politics is a major factor that will accelerate development. We may as well have the highest number of young people of Nigerian origin across the globe hustling.
In the time past, our entrepreneurship system has been rated by no less an institution like Harvard as the best incubation model in the world; how are we going to institutionalize this? One of the projects the Igbo DFI will focus on is building world class skills and entrepreneurship centres in the Igbo states.
Today most of our youths lack the requisite skill and capacity to take up available opportunities; they need training; they need motivation; they need that platform to grow. Like I said earlier, government is like a catalyst. Imagine if state governments make laws that certify crafts and skills and makes it illegal to operate in certain critical skill areas without proper training and certifications.
In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed many building collapses. Do you know what will be the impact of government making laws that insist that only qualified and certified skill men and women work at building sites from masons, carpenters, bricklayers, painters, electricians etc. that will not only professionalise those skill areas, but will make them more lucrative and attractive to young people. Another advantage will be increased and standardised wages for those skills.
In addition to that, government will generate huge revenue and create more jobs from certifying those skills. It will bring standardisation and efficiency in those sectors. Igbo need that kind of innovation and thinking in both private and public sectors. We need to do away with pedestal thinking and take bold action to salvage our land. The Igbo man is so blessed that there shouldn’t be retardation and underdevelopment in our place. Igbo are trail blazers. Igbo are known for development and we open places wherever we go; our land should reflect the quality of our thinking and operations outside the shores of our land.
The Igbo elite groups, youths, women and the government must work together to address the hopelessness and lack of opportunities facing our teeming youths. The era of trading blames should be a thing of the past, no one person can do it . It requires collective efforts of the willing and concerned. Like Nehemiah in the Bible, we should be sufficiently concerned about the decayed and desolate state of our homeland. Igbo youths are fundamental to this. They are brilliant, resilient and creative, but they need the requisite platforms to maximize opportunities and create a beautiful life for themselves. These platforms and institutions must create hope for the youths, that way they will not think or resort to crime or other delinquent activities in order to survive, because like I said it’s all about survival for the average Nigerian youth.
You seem not to buy this idea of Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, why?
Let me set this as a foundation, I believe strongly that Nigeria will be better for it, if an Igbo man is allowed to occupy the presidential seat. Igbo have some qualities that will naturally make any Nigerian president of Igbo extraction take Nigeria to the promise land. A Nigerian president of Igbo extraction will establish a level playing field which will of course engender healthy competition, meritocracy and massive growth across the country. A Nigerian president of Igbo extraction will enthrone equity and justice. Peaceful coexistence is the major trigger for development and an Igbo man stands a better chance to drive that properly owing to the itinerant and entrepreneurial attributes of the Igbo man.
But having said that, Nigeria is structurally skewed against an Igbo presidency and the civil war and activities that led to it hasn’t helped the argument for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction. Even before independence, there was a deliberate intention to keep the Igbo away from the nation’s leadership for reasons best known to those who set up the Nigerian system. But the fact is that Igbo have some comparative and competitive advantages and attributes that they need to focus on and invest their time, energy and resources to build Igboland into the industrial and commercial backbone of Nigeria, Africa and indeed the world.
So if I am allowed to make some suggestions I will say Igbo needs to look inwards and start building from the region. Igbo needs to look towards that angle and keep politics behind. What the Igbo needs is that handshake with federal government. What would have benefited not just the Igbo but the entire country better is political and constitutional restructuring, but it seems that no Nigerian leader has the courage and selflessness to pursue it frontally, hence Igbo needs to first articulate a framework on how to build an economically viable region that will be the envy of all. Igbo needs to come to table of national discourse more from that position of strength , only then will other things follow. That’s my thoughts.
Look at China, geographically and in terms of many attributes China isn’t the best place to visit in the world today, but within a short period through certain deliberate actions China has become the destination for anyone who wants to succeed almost in everything. You must go to China, whether you like it or not. I have had the opportunity of being to China many times and I can tell you they are very deliberate and focused to drive quality global traffic to their country mostly for their own benefit.
Ndigbo can domesticate that philosophy and idea. There are many things to do but first there must be a consensus of opinion by the leaders that it’s the way to go. Politics isn’t our best instrument for engagement in Nigeria, maybe we need to look at other tools to leverage, that way maybe Nigeria and indeed the world will pay serious attention to us. But igbos must set the agenda and template.
Could you tell us about your experience in government?
I had a wonderful experience while in government because I was determined to make impact. Although being an adviser, my role was limited to advising on specific assignments and programmes or projects. As an adviser, yours is to give advise. The onus of accepting and driving are left with the boss.
I enjoyed tremendous support and confidence from my boss in the areas he assigned me, especially in attracting and driving several of the federal government and IDA programmes and projects. And from my personal perspective, Dr Ikpeazu is a great leader. He’s very intelligent, compassionate and genuinely altruistic. As you well know, most of the programmes I drove had structures that ensured funds are not warehoused at the sub national government levels; so ours was the responsibility of ensuring the mobilisation of eligible beneficiaries and making sure Abia State benefitted immensely from the programmes.
We were also saddled with setting up effective and efficient cum transperent implementation structures and framework for those programmes to make sure target beneficiaries and objectives were achieved, that we did very well too. During my time, we remained at the top in terms of organisational efficiency and in the number of beneficiaries. That experience exposed me to the great opportunities and potentials government has to improve the livelihood of the people by mobilizing human, financial and institutional resources available to it.
Government is a catalyst that mobilizes the people through multiple structures and channels to develop a need based plan that when implemented will accelerate rapid economic, infrastructure and social transformation of the state. That experience also exposed the deep seated mistrust between the people and government requiring repair through transparent and open communication of visions, intentions and activities so that the people will trust their government and its ability to take decisions and actions on their behalf for their ultimate benefit and welfare.
Government is a huge and powerful platform that when deployed effectively can achieve monumental improvement and transformation that would affect majority of the citizens positively. My work in the area of ease of doing business for which I was recognized as the most outstanding and committed in Nigeria, opened my eyes to the capacity of government to create the enabling environment for private sector to flourish. You need the private sector to partner with government in the areas of industrialisation and job creation. Private sector can also become a major contributor to the resource base of the state through well intentioned policies and programmes, but all these must run on the foundation of trust and vision.
When you look back, is there anything you could have done differently?
Many things. We didn’t drive some things we initiated to a logical conclusion; but all the same we put in our level best within the limits of resources and powers available at the time. The most important was that the motive was purely service delivery for the benefit of the people and improvement of their livelihood. Government is a continuum and we hope that those who took over the mantle from us will continue to driver development in our clime.
The work needed to get to the promise land is huge, most times viewed from outside; you may underestimate not just the size and magnitude, but also the intricacies and contradictions. But it is not rocket science because there are templates you can leverage that are working globally. The most important factor in public service is motive. If the why is well understood and positive the what and how will be easier.
