TIME TO GET SERIOUS
Governor Udom Emmanuel is putting his state on the path of industrialisation, writes Desmond Ibe
Dubai in the United Arab Emirate is today unarguably one of the world’s wonders and a testimony to what visionary leaders could do to lift the fortunes of their nations. A complete desert, with no rain at all, all- year- round, Dubai is today a haven for tourists and businessmen from all over the world, thanks to Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who at a point in time chose to change the fortunes of his people. To accomplish his aim, he surrounded himself with the best and the brightest. In a book titled, Rashid’s Legacy, deputy ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Maktoum described Saeed thus: “He ruled Dubai from 1958 to 1990, taking his city –state from a relative backwater and laying foundations for the 21st century.’’
By the time Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed died, the United Nations observed a minute of silence in his honour. This was a leader that began his reign when the people he was ruling knew nothing about a body called the UN. Truly, anyone that visits Dubai today would acknowledge that Sheikh Saeed worked hard for his people. He was a leader to be proud of. He laid the foundation for wealth and abundance for his people. His pictures are everywhere in the city. Truly, with the ultramodern skyscrapers in Dubai, it would be hard to imagine that it was once a mud-walled city with people riding on camels and living in the desert. No doubt, the story of Dubai is a pointer to what can be accomplished by great minds in any society.
Back home in Nigeria, one of the state governors trying to lay a solid foundation for industrialisation of their states is Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. The governor has been trying to turn the oil- rich state to an industrial haven. Nigeria has always depended on crude oil for revenue despite the share foolishness of doing so. As a thoroughbred technocrat, the governor obviously knows the implication of an absolute dependence on oil, hence the drive to put the state on a path of self -sufficiency. A lot of people have acknowledged his efforts and are hoping that he would leave a solid legacy that can be built upon in the future for the oil rich state.
Indeed it is difficult not to recognise the giant strides of Emmanuel in the last three years. Even the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo publicly acknowledged this during the inauguration of the needle factory in the state a few years back. The vice-president who was visibly impressed by the governor’s foresight in attracting the project to the state had said: “You are one of the cleverest people I’ve ever come across,” describing the syringe factory as a landmark project, not only for Akwa Ibom but also Nigeria.
Also, testifying to the sagacity and brilliance of Emmanuel, the Chairman of Syringe and Needle Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (SNMAN) and Managing Director, JSM Company Limited, Zubeyir Gulabi,, in a newspaper article once said, “Africa is blessed with lots of wealthy people, well-educated and knowledgeable individuals scattered all over the world. One of the examples of these great leaders is Udom. When you are discussing with him, he discusses with you as a technocrat. He gives you the figures, not just support; he shares your problem with you. And this is the greatest encouragement we need to invest everything we have in Akwa Ibom.’’
The governor anchors his vision on a five point-agenda of wealth creation, economic/ political inclusion, poverty alleviation, infrastructure consolidation and job creation. By encouraging private sector participation in lifting the state’s economy, the governor has done a lot to lay the foundation of a strong economy for the state.
The N15billion Jubilee Syringe company in Onna Local Government area of the state is the largest syringe manufacturing company on the entire African continent according to experts. It is expected to produce 700,000 syringes daily and over 350 million syringes yearly.
Apart from what Nigeria as a whole stands to gain from such huge project, which the vicepresident confirmed, syringe business is a major commerce across the world. Disposable syringes are the most consumed medical services in the world and according to Transparency Market Research, the global disposable syringe market is expected to reach $7.5billion (N2.6trillion) in 2022. Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company hopes to take 500 Nigerian youths off the congested labour market, with further commitment to grow the numbers. Investments in the syringe industry alone, according to Gulabi, can boost the nation’s economy by about 50 per cent, if the federal government implements the medical devices industry policy meant to enhance the sector.
Although the initiative is a 100 per cent privately driven investment, investors have said Akwa Ibom State has what it takes to attract investment to the country. Apart from the encouragement from the state government, investors said the state is the safest place in the country in terms of security. While it might look far away from the market, the good policies of the government are giving investors the confidence to see it as the best location to do business.
Beyond the needle factory, the government has encouraged the setting up of more industries in the state in order to open up the state for inflow of Foreign Direct Investments and create more jobs for the people. For example, the Toothpick and Pencil factories in the state are currently producing over 15,000kg toothpick and 20,000 pencils within every eight hours of production. By so doing, the governor has created direct employment for many youths and businesses for many others who indirectly benefit from the industries in the state. These include bamboo suppliers, newspapers suppliers, gums distributors and diesel suppliers.
The governor’s metering project is described as Africa’s first ever electric metering industry. It is located in ONNA Local Government Area of the state. It was done to reduce high cost of electricity tariff and encourage micro, small and medium scale businesses to spring up in every nook and cranny of the state.
Just recently, the Managing Director of 4Power Consortium Limited, Mr. Matthew Edevbie, said the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company will distribute 150,000 meters to its existing consumers. This is made possible by the governor’s metering project.
Also, to the governor’s credit, an agreement was signed with a foreign firm to revive the abandoned Ibom Science project started in 2006 by former Governor Victor Attah and abandoned by subsequent regimes.
The governor a few months back signed a memorandum of understanding with SERGE Capital Investment to resuscitate the moribund multi-billion project in the state.
Development comes by policies and from all indications, Governor Emmanuel seems to have good policies for sustainable development. Sustainable development responds to both the current and future needs of the people. Industrialisation of Akwa Ibom State is clearly providing answers to the present needs of the people, which will subsequently open the gates for the future generations. Ibe wrote from Lagos