Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has assured that the contents of the report of the Abia State Post Covid-19 Recovery Team will form a major plank and platform that will launch Abia into a new economic environment.
Governor Ikpeazu stated this while receiving the report of the Committee on Post Covid-19 Economic Recovery headed by eminent Elder Statesman, Professor Anya O Anya restated his vision and commitment towards launching Abia onto an economic order that will be self sustaining.
The Governor who thanked Professor Anya O Anya for his level of commitment to the development of the State, noted that the greatest attribute of the state remains the ingenuity of Ndi Abia.
He recalled the role played by tailors in Aba in the production of indigenous facemask as a way of supporting the government in containing the Covid 19 pandemic, and promised that a convocation of some selected Abians from different walks of life will take place soon to chart the best way of implementing the report to its fullest.
Governor Ikpeazu equally restated his commitment to repositioning the Civil Service as an enabler for greater productivity.
He noted that Abia as of today remains the only State providing Health Care services to Abians leveraging the Tele-Health initiative, adding that the performance of Abia children speaks volumes of his huge investment in the education sector.
Speaking while presenting the report to the Governor, the Chairman of the Committee and National Merit Award Winner, Professor Anya O. Anya stressed the need for Abia to embrace the opportunities provided by the Covid 19 pandemic and leverage on the areas where the state has comparative advantage.
Professor Anya while noting that Abia has produced many great Leaders in history, said that the performance of Abia children in national examinations is a confirmation that the state has all it takes to challenge the world in the competitive global arena.
He further called on Government to invest in improving human capacity and capability to enable the people fit into the challenges and innovations of the 21st century.
Prof Anya called for a system where the pursuit of excellence, truth, innovation and quality of education will be the order of the day, adding that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu must have been inspired by God to set up the Committee because the assignment has provided a new platform for a brand new thinking.
Professor Anya thanked the Governor for the quality of the membership of the Committee whom he described as a fine breed of professional and patriotic Abians. He was particularly grateful to Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala for her contributions to the work of Committee despite her very tight schedule.
Moderating the event earlier via zoom from the US, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora Matters, Dr Ngozi Erondu recalled that the Committee was inaugurated by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in May this year to come up with a blueprint to manage the economy of the State beyond the Covid 19 era as well as proffer solution for the sustainable survival of the State.
Other members of the Committee present during the presentation of the report include the Secretary of the Committee, Dr Mrs Nnenna Chikezie, Dr. Chris Odinaka Igwe, Mr Eze Ajuzie while other members joined via zoom.