Ikpeazu receives first Abia industrial policy document from United Nations
Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has assured that the first ever Abia State Industrial Policy document would serve as a catalyst that would drive the industrial revolution of Nigeria.
The Governor gave the assurance during the presentation of the Abia State Industrial Policy Document by the ECOWAS Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Mr. Jean Bakole, at the Government House, Umuahia.
The Governor said that his administration would study the document very well and directed the State Commissioner for Industry, Promotion and Development, to set up a team of professionals that would explain the policy to the State Executive Council with a view to convoking a stakeholders meeting in the industrial sector for the official presentation of the policy to the public.
Dr. Ikpeazu said the Abia State Industrial Policy Document is the 3rd of such documents developed by his government, noting that before 2015, Abia State had no Long Term Development Plan and Master Plan for Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia.
According to him, lack of understanding of basic issues around problems government seeks to solve is the bane of development in government organisations. He said that he was proud that at the end of his tenure next year, he would be handing over to Abians two industries, including ENASCO and the Garment Factory, adding that under his administration, Abia has become the SME capital of Nigeria and has continued to excel in SME development.
The Governor who thanked the UNIDO Representative for partnering the State, appreciated the milestone achieved and congratulated the Honourable Commissioner for Industry, Promotion and Development for her resilience in achieving the feat.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Industry, Promotion and Development in the State, Chief Mrs Uwaoma Olenwengwa, had described the document as one that would assist in industrial development of the State, saying that the administration of Governor Ikpeazu has remained an administration of “firsts” as Abia State has come up with an Industrial Policy which has never happened before.
Mrs Olenwengwa commended UNIDO for its support in formulating the document for the State, saying that the document would prove that Abia was moving forward in industrial development. She added that the document would be forwarded to the State Assembly for passage into Law.
Presenting the document, the ECOWAS Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Mr. Jean Bakole, said the policy was a key to economic development of the state, stressing that “Abia cannot be ignored whenever issues of industrial sector and development are discussed.”
He said the document would assist the State in changing the narratives of its industrial development.
Mr. Bakole, who harped on the need for governments to strengthen the capacity of investments in their states, commended the Ikpeazu for his commitment to modernizing the Abia economy through the industrial policy which would drive development in the state and urged him to ensure that the document was fully implemented and utilised.
Members of the State Assembly, including Dr. Mike Ukoha, Goddy Adiele and Stanley Nwabuisi, were present at the event, as well as members of the State Executive Council, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Okey Ahiwe, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugu Kalu Ugba; Chairman of the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Joseph Nwabeke, among others.
