…..As Investment Stakeholders, Professionals Speak, Give Recommendations to Utilize Investment Opportunities In ANIOMA NATION
…. Anioma Intellectuals, Business Gurus Addressed Critical Questions, Issues On Investment; defines Roles And Responsibilies of APEDETT for Comparative Cost Advantage.
By Victor Bieni, Asaba
As part of efforts to think Anioma to Prosperity, inform and influence good governance and public policy for the strategic interests and development of Anioma people, Anioma Peoples Development Think-tank (APEDETT), a group of Intellectuals, Professionals, accomplished seasoned management gurus, Academics; home and diaspora led by its National President, Barr. Ikeazor Akaraiwe, S.A.N, today proffer solutions, address critical questions and issues on Investment development; give recommendations on available Investment opportunities in Anioma Nation, to harness areas of comparative cost advantage for sustainable development of the area.
The one day APEDETT’s 2022 Investment Conference took place today being on Saturday, 29th January in Asaba, Delta State capital. The event was widely attended by Anioma professionals and investors within and outside the state. The theme of the Conference was: ” Appraising The Enablers & Drivers of Investments in Anioma”, with a major focus on attracting Investment to Anioma land.
APEDETT, an independent, non-partisan alliance of Anioma Professionals was inaugurated on 29th December 2011 and registered as non-governmental organization under “Incorporated Trustees” on the 3rd of April 2014 to develop and utilize an ideas bank for engagement with stakeholders in government, private sector and Civil Society for sustainable development of Anioma land.
APEDETT’s Chairman, Board of Trustees and Delta State Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer, Prof Eric Eboh, lectured Anioma People on the topic: “Rational and Benefits of the Investment conference”.
The good will message was read by the representive of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and Chairman of Delta State Investment Development Agency, DIDA Boss, Mr Paul Nmah, and Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Area in Delta State, Hon. Obi Kelvin Ezenyili stated the achievements of DIDA agency and Local Government Council in Governor Okowa’s administration, restated commitment to more Investment development in Anioma land and Delta State in general.
Anioma people has echoed “YES WE CAN” to the critical questions and Issues on Investment. Development drives in the area as Anioma son, a seasoned business guru, the Group Managing Director, Rain Oil Group, Chief Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie presented a paper on the topic: “Opportunities and Challenges of the Business Environment In Anioma”. The second presenter, the present Delta State Commissioner For Finance, Sir Okenmor Fidelis Tilije dwelt on the topic: “Significance Improvements of the Business Environment in Anioma since 2015 and Implications for Private Sector Investment”.
The event witnessed the feedbacks, comments, conversations of Anioma Professionals, physical and virtual participants within Delta State, Nigeria and across the globe. And most importantly.
One of the discussants, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Delta UNIDO Centre and Export Initiative, Chief (Mrs) Shimite Bello, spoke extensively on the activities of the agency, while the Managing Director, Masterchem Industries Ltd, Mr. Lucky Chukwudi Onyesom, provided an in-depth strategies, possible ways of enhancing Investments and easy of doing business in Anioma land.
APEDETT’s leadership while commending the laudable achievements of Delta State Government across various sector noted the gaps in private Investments in Anioma land, identified existing investment opportunities in areas such as Agriculture, Agro Industry, tourism and hospitality, trade and commerce, manufacturing, education sector, ICT services, solid minerals, and oil and gas.
They listed investment potentials in Anioma Land to include oil and gas , agribusiness and agro-industrialization, micro finance and enterprise development, arts and culture to ensure modern prosperity.
The leadership then called on investors to come and invest in Anioma nation and, also enjoined Anioma people to utilize every available investment opportunities as observed with focus on areas of comparative cost advantage amongst others.
They listed locations with investment potentials as gas resources at Ndokwa area, oil resources in Kwale, Ute-Enugu, Abavo and others; coal in Ogwashi-Uku, Asaba and Obomkpa, kaolin at Ika area, establishment of ICT innovation incubation centres, oil palm and cassava value chains, rice ecology belts at Ebu, IIlah, Oko, Ugili-Amai, Agro Industrial Park at Ogwashi-Uku, Nollywood hub in Asaba.
Others included the Umunede/Emuhu transit park, shopping hub, food and beverages. Other areas of investment potentials listed were transportation, especially the boost in rail and personal services, increased tertiary institutions in ANIOMA Land, inflow of persons, private aquaculture, arts and crafts, Kwale Industrial Park, manufacturing opportunities in the area of ceramics, paper, synthetic rubber, glass among others.
Anioma Intellectuals, Professionals as a way of stimulating greater inflow of private investments and businesses in Anioma Nation, which the group said would be a road map of actions for all Anioma sons and daughters in every sectors, public and private offices, within and in diaspora.
The Conference recommended that the Delta State Government as a matter of urgent importance should pay priority attention to power shortages, road networks affecting industries operating in Anioma land.
Also, government should explore the export potentials of cash crops such as maize, plantain, oil palm, vegetables, latex, yam, cassava; and improved processing infrastructure and replacement of crude implement with modern technologies”.
“That Anioma people should agitate for economic restructuring or regional government, instead of succession, to harness the minerals in the region, tackle existing security challenges, appointment of responsible individuals. The huge gas reserves in Kwale should be harnessed, ¹building of deep sea ports in ANIOMA land to utilize the 160 nautical miles for import and export, revamping of tourists attraction centres, remodelling of Anioma Cultural Festivals to attract both local and international sponsorship.
“That Anioma people should harness the potentials of Asaba production hub; media and entertainment, talents hunt, film 7production workshops to catch, build stars in ANIOMA Movie Industry. Investment in off-grid, Independent power plant to connect Agbor-Itakpe rail line to solve the problem NERC”.
APEDETT’s leadership highlighted some major roles and responsibilities the group l play to make the Anioma Investments development drives work in her long term plan.
These plans are: To establish0 Chambers of commerce and Manufacturers Association in Agbor, Ogwashi-Uku and Ndokwa to complement that of Asaba, urged Delta State Government to take up actions points, interventions in specific sectors as stated by APEDETT”.
The actionable plans are
“To Set up a platform for mentorship of her Youths to start-up businesses,
-To collaborate with NIRSAL, CBN to provide funds to support young businesses.
-To send conference resolutions to strategic government institutions locally, nationally, and internationally for implementation in ANIOMA land.
The group urged Anioma young farmers, entrepreneurs in the palm plantation business to utilize the assistance offered by RAIN OIL LTD in the area of giving free imported palm seedlings”.