I strongly disagree with this contributor (Ini Ibehe), as he sounded a little more hypocrytal and rhetoric rather than being specific. Before you invite Ibomites in diaspora to return home, you should 1st ask yourself as to what is on ground for their return. How dare you countenance the whole beauty and efficacy of industrialization of a State, and rather prefer menial jobs for the technocrats/experts return to settle for th in the villages of Eket and Uyo.
Before you issue out a clarion call, you must 1st and foremost offer an alternative. Have you ever travelled to Ogun State. It's on record that in the 90s, when the Oba Adetoja Sijuade issued clarion calls to all their sons and daughters to return home to help develop the state. He didn't just invite them to return to a vacuum. Haven't you heard or read about Agbara Industrial Estate? Haven't also heard about IPPs and Industrial Estates developed and built in almost every nooks and cranies of Ogun State? Haven't you seen how Government of that State have deployed PPPs (Prrivate Public Partnership) to harness the resources of that state for continued and sustainable development.
Hey Man, common on. You will not tell me that all the Akwa Ibomites in diaspora are illiterates and good for nothing idiots, hence they took to leaving their State in droves to seek greener pastures somewhere else. Excuse me. I hate to be drawn into issues like this. I had expected a well constructive argument and a thinker to comments on the burning issue (INDUSTRIALIZATION OF THE STATE - AKWA IBOM).
If I may remind you, it's not all jobs or any kind of jobs you will have an American undertaken. That's is the pride of a nation. Where you have utilize available resources to empower your people to be self sufficient and pride themselves of leadership.
We can't keep looking down on ourselves. Nigeria and indeed Akwa Ibom has the resources to deliver rather than pride yourself of cleaning services and cab drivers.
I may sound this as a warning that, you'd better sit on the fence, rather than joining those praise singers who will rather clapp for agovernment who is not delivering true dividend of democracy to the people as it should.
There are lot of other opportunities, which we could open up to Akwa Ibomites in diaspora and indeed investors in and out of Nigeria. If I may ask you, How FDI have you witnessed this year in Akwa Ibom compared to what you have else where? I remember challenging an old Uncle who reasoned like Inibehe during the Attah administration. The old uncle believed Attah had delivered, but it is not until after he had left office that you and I now agreed that Attah never did nothing.
It takes only a leader with goodwill to muscle his way to develop his State and turn it around for the betterment of the people of that State. Dubai was built by only three men (brothers). It's today a tourist haven to people from all works of life. Dubai present the most expensive property mortgages in the world; and not even Paris (see Paris and die) and/or New York (USA).
The following present few eye opener to areas where we can explore to fully industrialize the State:-
1. Rubber (plastics; chairs; plates) etc. 2. Leather (shoes, handbags; etc) 3. Parm Oil and Kernel Processing Plants (Palm Oil and farm produce); 4. Cement Plants 5. Tourism (Recreational facilities; 2 - 3 star hotels) especially in Eket and Uyo 6. Breweries 7. Confectioneries 8. Minings 9. International Schools. etc etc
Government can partner with private sector on a built-and-transfer arrangement. By so doing, there would be movement of other smaller companies moving in droves into the State. Talk of Discount Houses, Stock Broking Firms; financial institutions; construction; printing press; small and medium scale productions companies; etc.
I agree with Inibehe that there is no place like home. But please make no mistake that our sons and daughters in diaspora who are expatriates and professionals will have to return home for returning-home-sake. If there's nothing on ground for them. You will not compare the luxury provided to these ones in Ikoyi (Lagos), Victoria Island (Lagos) Lekki (Lagos), Park View (Lagos); (Ikeja) Lagos, etc. to nothing but a boring village life style of Uyo.
Let's not fool ourselves. Not until our people who are in dire need of returning are provided with alternatives, you haven't seen massive migration yet. In the next few years, save something urgent is done about it, there'll be exodus movement in droves by the Ibomites. May that not be our portion, but then, I pray someone in authority with the power to do something is listending.
As I may not have the time to go through this contribution, I accept my errors. Until I come your way again, tie sung o
All Akwa ibomites must as a matter of urgency return to their roots to see what and where they can participate in to make the state better. Its not a one-man affair. Looking up to the government alone is not a solution i will prescribe to anybody. Now that we have roads open into the rural communities, it has become much easier to bring farm produce to the city. That can earn one a living. Displaying our crafts and arts in the new art centre in uyo is much better than hawking goods on streets in Lagos. Sweeping the streets of Uyo pays better than carrying refuse in Lagos. Cutting grass for residents of Ewet housing estate is a nobler job than begging in other cities. Driving one of the prestigious Ibom Taxis is much better than being a bus conductor in Port Hacourt. It is a matter of choice. Industry or no industry, Home is the best. My brothers and sisters!!! Please come back home. Industries are coming to Akwa Ibom.
The people of Akwa Ibom State need URGENT step taken by the present administration towards industrialization of the State. The people (our youths) are tired of leaving their home states to seek greener pastures in other States of the Federation, and seldom end up in harsher conditions than they left their villages, and some of them hardly can they find that choice jobs than end up frustrated, and the few lucky ones can hardly save enough from salaries to remember sending a little to their loved ones at home.
If the State is industrialized, there would be no mad rush to other mega cities, as the artesance can always be working around their homes, the educated will be employed and adequately remunerated from a government backed project that will be PPP promoted.
Industrialization can take the form of short and long run approach, by simply identifying key areas such as done in Ogun State, Bauchi, Kaduna, etc. and marry it with what you have in mega city like Lagos. We've got the money and resources. What the Governor need is vision and will-power to do it.
Let's get on our feet soon, and fast enough. We need to return to our home State as soon as possible.
