Akwa Ibom State government has appealed to prominent sons and daughters across Nigeria and the diaspora to come home and invest their resources for the development of the state and for employment opportunities for the people.
The Honourable Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Capt. Iniobong Ekong (rtd.), made the appeal on Saturday while fielding questions from journalists shortly after the commissioning of SirLife Water Limited, a water factory by an Akwa Ibom son in the diaspora at Nkim Ita, Itu Local Government Area of the State.
Akwa Ibom, despite being endowed with natural resources, land mass and influential people, is still regarded as a civil service state due to its lack of industry and factories to boost commercial activities.
In a bid to change the narrative, the new Commissioner, who represented the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, at the occasion, said the State is creating an enabling environment for trade and investment by declaring a state of emergency on power, building rural feeder roads for easy access as well as starting the process of reviewing the regulatory framework for ease of doing business, which he said is on the floor of the State House of Assembly.
Reeling out the benefits of coming home to invest, the governor’s representative said, “The collateral benefits still tell on the collective success of our people. It is even much more if the person trying to make this progress comes from the diaspora. When I got into that facility, I was excited because it’s a step to the elevation of our people in all forms: in employment, in provision of social services, in engagement in trade, in investment in our economy.
“I, therefore, challenge others to come home and invest. Come and help your people, build your people, have backbones. East or west, home is home. Nobody will judge you for what you have done in any other place than what you have done at home. Even animals take back their loot to their foxholes, so human beings should be able to think back home.”
The Commissioner said part of his challenge was how to push such businesses “to the next gear,” saying that with the strategic provisions of His Excellency the Governor, all would be achieved.
Earlier in his remarks, the CEO of SirLife Water Project Limited, Dr. Uwem Equan, thanked the governor, Pastor Eno, for his support and presence at the occasion as well as the paramount ruler, community, students and well-wishers from the diaspora.
He said the project did not only show their commitment to delivering quality water solutions but also their dedication to the people and progress of Itu and Akwa Ibom, even as he hoped the project would bring lasting partnership with the people.
In a goodwill message on behalf of Ananga’s family at home and in the diaspora, Akparawa Ibiobio commended SirLife for the project and called for a partnership as distributors.
