Alpha Times Launch: SOUTH EAST LEADERS CALL FOR UNITY, INDUSTRIAL REVIVAL
By : Ukpa Ewa.
Stakeholders from South East have gathered in Awka for the inaugural South East Roundtable and official unveiling of Alpha Times, formerly know as Anambra Times. The event served as a platform for renewed commitment to regional collaboration, economic integration and strategic development.
Addressing the gathering, the Senator Representing Anambra Central and Chairman of the occasion, Sen. Victor Umeh, declared the event open with a passionate call for introspection and unity. He praised the transformation of Anambra Times from a local newsletter to a regionally focused news magazine now rebranded as Alpha Times commending its evolution into a platform tackling critical national and regional issues.
Umeh challenged participants to reflect on the state of the South East, asking whether the region was responsible for its own marginalization or suffering neglect. He emphasized that peace must prevail in Anambra upcoming elections and urged political actors to be patriotic, allowing both the incumbent Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo and opposition to present their visions in a peaceful democratic environment.
“The South East is not where it should be,” Umeh declared, lamenting the collapse of industries set up by past leaders. “We need to rise up and build a formidable future. We cannot continue to wait for others to make us an industrial hub.”
He hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South East Development Commission into law, but added that the region progress depends on its leaders and people. He called on the governors of the five Eastern states to initiate industrial parks, harness youth talent and develop a technological roadmap to secure the future.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Godwin Onu, former Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Oko and member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Professorial Endowment Committee, spoke on “Harnessing the Power of Interstate Collaboration to Unlock the South East Full Economic Potential.”
Onu emphasized the importance of a coordinated regional strategy, describing the South East as rich in population, intellect and resources. He stressed that unity among Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States is essential for achieving real economic growth. He identified key sectors such as agriculture, technology and education as areas that need joint investment and innovation.
“The lack of coordination has slowed us down,” he said. “Now is the time to form strong interstate partnerships to unlock the region economic capacity.”
In his welcome remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Of Alpha Times Dr. Paul Nwosu described the rebranding as a strategic move to expand the publication scope. He noted that while it started as a state-centric paper nine years ago, the new identity reflects a regional vision aimed at telling the South East story with purpose.
“Alpha Times will be a voice for the entire South East, promoting regional collaboration and shifting the narrative from negativity to opportunity,” Nwosu said.
He emphasized the importance of strategic media platforms in championing regional development and encouraged stakeholders to support initiatives that amplify the strength of South East.
The event which was attended by media professionals, students of Public Administration from Nnamdi Azikiwe University and other stakeholders, featured the formal unveiling of Alpha Times. The publication now positions itself as a multi purpose digital magazine covering issues of national and regional relevance.
