A pan Igbo socio-political group, Association of South East Town Unions, (ASETU), has called on Igbo businessmen to invest at least 30% of their businesses at home to help create jobs and develop the zone.
In an interview with journalists, Chairman of ASETU, Chief Emeka Diwe said his group is worried at the manner in which investors of Igbo origin prefer to establish businesses in Abuja, Lagos and foreign lands, than in Igbo land.
While calling on other Nigerians to invest in Igbo land, Diwe lamented that over 60% of major industries in the country are owned or managed by Igbo entrepreneurs and urged them to repatriate part of their businesses to the South East.
“The Association of South East Town Unions is worried over this situation where our sons establish industries in other lands without considering their home. In all the five states of the South East, there is no single functional industry, except the commendable efforts of our brothers in Nnewi. It doesn’t speak well of Ndigbo. Why are we good in developing other places, while neglecting our own? Everybody is complaining of lack of development in Igbo land. If they can invest at least 30% of their investments in the South East zone, Igbo land will be more developed than Abuja and Lagos. Industries provide employment for our youths and attract other businesses.
“Some of our businessmen complain of challenges like security and power; but I believe that such challenges are surmountable. We can put heads together and reach out to solve these challenges; our problem is that we don’t think home. I have always told them there are no way two or three industries sited in an area would not be able to attract other businesses including security and power.
Diwe disclosed that ASETU has embarked on consultations with government agencies and relevant stakeholders to proffer incentives that can encourage investments in the zone.
