Tourism & Lifestyle | Abia Infrastructure Mandate tours Onuaku Industrial City on Infrastructural Awareness
Abia Infrastructure Mandate tours Onuaku Industrial City on Infrastructural Awareness
Abia Infrastructure Mandate, AIM), a non partisan advocacy group formed by Abia professional elites across party lines, continued its infrastructure awareness campaigns in Abia State, on the 17th of February, 2022, when the group visited Abia State University, Uturu and Masters Industrial Cluster built in Onuaku, near Uturu by Honourable Minister of State, Dr Uche Samson Ogah while on infrastructure audit of public institutions and critical infrastructure across the State.
The group led by its Convener on the two visits, Engr Odo Ijere, reiterated that it's campaign to get infrastructure right in Abia State will see them knocking on the doors of every stakeholder in infrastructure development in the State till a change in attitude on infrastructure becomes the norm among various stakeholders in the State.
It is noteworthy that ever since Engr Odo Ijere and his team of infrastructure revisionists got hosted by the Executive Governor of the State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD on the 15th of January, 2022, the group has gone viral with many Abians believing that a Daniel has finally come to the judgment to change the stigma associated with parlours infrastructural output in Abia State.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor of ABSU, Professor Ogbonna Onuoha who represented the VC on the occasion of the reception of the AIM delegation in the conference room of the Vice Chancellor's office could not hide his joy for the formation of a group such as AIM at this point of Abia evolutionary geopolitics. He praised the founders of the movement as very visionary and saying that infrastructural audit of public institutions and critical infrastructure in the State cannot be overemphasised and further saying that AIM, as an advocacy group should interface with various stakeholders devoid of partisan interests.
The AIM delegation responded by telling the DVC and his management team that AIM will not be interested in playing party politics with Abia Infrastructure and that the group are eager to get Abia up to the developmental speed of other regional competing States. The delegation further told the hosts that efforts must be made by the University authorities to see all Abians as development partners without regard to partisan leanings.
The Convener of the group, Engr Odo Ijere, informed the DVC and his team that AIM will attract development partners to invest in modern hostels, digital library, laboratory equipment etcetera to reinvent learning and promote entrepreneurship training of students for job creation. The visiting delegation and their hosts later pledged to maintain mutual contacts and facilitate more meetings for implementation of those proposals brought forward to improve infrastructure in the University.
The AIM delegation thereafter proceeded to Onuaku Industrial City just at the border between Abia and Ebonyi State at about 20kms away. The sprawling Industrial cluster or complex occupies an area of the size of about 20 hectares of land space. It is a breathtaking site that houses about 10 production factories or plants. There are plastic extrusion, vehicle assembly, noodles production, Masters Geepee tanks, blending lubrication plant, motorcycle assembly plant, bottled water plant, mineral water plant, beer production plant, malt drinks, name it, they're all in the Masters Energy Industrial Complex built by Dr Uche Ogah.
The AIM team was received by the wife of the Honourable Minister, Dr Mrs Uche Ogah who told the August visitors that her husband was tied down by official engagement. She introduced the visitors to the management team of the complex who took the team around all the nooks and crannies of their Industrial Complex. The AIM team noted that the industrial cluster is grossly underutilised. The team noted with regrets that such a cluster if integrated into the economic ecosystem of the State could give Abians, a minimum of 5000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs. This is not a small number for crying out loud.
The leader of the team, Engr Odo Ijere informed Dr Mrs Uche Ogah that AIM was birthed to find solutions to everything that will bring development to Abia State. Further saying that AIM will fight for a new policy dispensation that will create Industrial hub around Onuaku City. Such Industrial hub will interface Abia North with the economic miracle at Ebonyi state for the overriding public interest of the entire subregion.
The delegation of Abia Infrastructure Mandate was warmly received and later departed after a very busy day for its members. The delegation included, Its Convener Engr Odo Ijere, Chief Engr Ogbo Abarikwu, Maazi Obinna Agommuo, Architect Lucas Eme Onu, Chief Sir Charles Nwankwo, Chief Uzo Ekworomadu, Chief Agu Ojukwu, Lady Victoria Ogbonna, Lady Precious Uwaoma, Prince Samson Orji Ukpai, Professor Amanze Akpuda, Chief Lekwa Ezutah, Chief O.C Okpanku, Engr Tochukwu Kalu, Mr Rafael Ukpai.
