A Socio-cultural group,Nzuko Umunna,made the call during a courtesy visit on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State at Government House Umuahia.
The group said the collective hopes and aspirations of Ndigbo towards policy reform, economic development and security of lives and properties in the face of herdsmen attacks and other forms of criminality rest squarely on the shoulders of the Governors of the zone.
Speaking through their leader, Mr Emeka Onwuka,the group urged governor Ikpeazu to galvanize other stakeholders towards activating the development agenda for the South East zone.
The group equally called for the operationalisation of economic development plan to transform the Southeast into the economic hub of West Africa adding that “Aba city in particular has the potent to become the economic hub of West Africa through this initiative”.
According to them, the focus of this regional integration initiative is to promote infrastructural improvement and economic development, investment, security, justice and efficiency in administration.
The group said they have evolved an economic report which contains suggestions on policy imperatives for the development of Abia and the Southeast zone adding that they are committed to engaging stakeholders and proffering supportive ideas for the development of the Southeast region.
Responding, Governor Ikpeazu while noting that societies that have developed leveraged on the strength of their ethnic nationalities to succeed,stressed the need for all stakeholders to come out of their comfort zones and leverage the comparative advantage of Igbo nation to secure the future of her young ones through economic development.
The governor said his administration’s transformational agenda was focused on initiating programs and policies that would develop the state, Southeast region and the nation at large.
He assured that that he would study the economic development report of the Nzuko Umunna with a view to implementing it.
The group later presented a copy of its economic development report to the Governor while the Crown Realties Secretary, Mr. Chibuzo Ekwekwo presented a documentary on Enyimba Economic City.
