‘Abia needs new industries to replace M.I Okpara era investments,’ as UCCIMA appeals to indigenes

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

Save for the industries built by the late Dr. Michael Okpara’s administration during the defunct Eastern Region in Umuahia, some of which have gone moribund, the Abia State capital is bare of industries, according to the Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (UCCIMA).

Lamenting the dearth of industries in Umuahia and Abia State in general, UCCIMA said there was urgent need for Abians in Diaspora to massively invest at home so that new ones would spring up.

Making a passionate appealed to Abia indigenes in Diaspora to show greater interest in investing at home during the 2022 Planning meeting of the chamber, Chief Servant UCCIMA and Vice President of Nigeria-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, Chief Chidi Aruoma, explained that such investments would help to industrialise the state, provide employment for teeming unemployed youths and contribute to the overall development of the state.

Aruoma said his call was predicated on the zeal and passion of UCCIMA to develop the Small and Medium Enterprises sector in Umuahia, adding that

UCCIMA was also planning to establish skills acquisition centres in the three senatorial zones of the state.

Aruoma noted that the state government has created a conducive investment climate and renewed his call on Abians in Diaspora to come home, take advantage of the present status of Abia state as the most investment-friendly environment in the country to invest in the state as the state was suffering from dearth of indigenous factories, industries and companies.

“Our citizens who are in the Diaspora should please come home and invest. There’s no way you can’t ride a bicycle from afar, you need to be close to mount the bicycle and ride it comfortably. Therefore, there’s this urgent need for us to come back home. Minus the Industries which were set up by the late Michael Okpara, there is nothing more here to look at. Minus the Golden Guinea brewery, minus the modern ceramics, what else do we have here?

“Most of the businesses moving on and up in Umuahia and Abia State in general are mostly owned by none indigenes. What happened to the indigenes? We take pleasure in going to build factories and other businesses outside Abia. There are cases of people who live in posh houses abroad but they come back home to meet thatched houses; why not replicate same in your hometown? Let’s remember that there’s no place like home.

When you build your establishment here, you have succeeded in pulling our youths off the streets, so that’s the more reason UCCIMA is telling Abians in Diaspora to come back home and invest.”

“There is security; and good roads are springing up. Let’s embrace the window given to us by the Governor and move forward to make it better,” Aruoma said.

According to the UCCIMA boss, the body was requesting government assist it to set up skills acquisition centres across the three senatorial districts in Abia State.

 “This will help those who cannot do well in the Western system of education to learn a trade like carpentry/upholstery, shoe making, among others,” he added.

Aruoma used the opportunity to solicit the support and cooperation of members, even as he encouraged them to shun lukewarm attitude in the year 2022.

He disclosed that the essence of the special meeting was for members to have an overview of what UCCIMA intends to achieve within the new fiscal year.

Responding on behalf of others, the UCCIMA Vice President (Finance), Hon. Nmere Asonye, lauded the sterling performance of Chief Aruoma and reaffirmed the support of members of UCCIMA towards the growth and progress of the chamber.