SOUTH EAST: TOWARDS A ROBUST ECONOMIC BLUEPRINT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Keynote Speech by Dr. Ike Neliaku, fnipr, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at the South East Media Summit organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),Zone C (South East) on Wednesday, July 31st, 2024.

Protocols!

1. Introduction
   I am very honoured by this invitation from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) South East Zone, to deliver the keynote address at this very important summit.
   The event is very providential – the timing divine, the topic very strategic and the audience is well composed. This couldn’t have come at a better time given that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has just signed into law the bill establishing the South East Development Commission (SEDEC), about one week ago.
   In signing the bill into law, the President said:
   “… the South-East Development Commission is established to ensure the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the zone, as well as tackle ecological problems and other related environmental or developmental challenges in South-East states.
   “I believe in building the nation on the fulcrum of fairness, equity, and unity; hence, ensuring equitable development, inclusive governance, and the provision of qualitative services to all Nigerians, no matter where they reside, while knitting even more tightly together the national fabric.”
   I will like to commend and congratulate all the people, Ndigbo and Nigerians, that played one role or the other to see that the bill was initiated, followed through and signed into a law. Gratitude to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who I understand that sponsored the bill, the South East Governors, our Members of National Assembly, the technical experts from within and outside the zone, that provided all the support needed to push this through.
   This brings to four the creation and establishments of regional development commissions by the federal government of Nigeria. The first being the Niger Delta Development Commission, followed by the North East Development Commission, the North West Development Commission, and the South East Development Commission. I don’t know if we see what I am seeing, but I will leave it at that for now, ‘onye obuna welu ilie guo eze ya onu’.
   I said that the timing of this summit is very divine and strategic because of a number of reasons. First, this summit should have taken place sometime in December 2023; then it was contemplated for February 2024, then April, and eventually today. But for the resolute stand of the organisers, it could have been shifted again due to the passing of the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who I understand was billed to chair the summit; the #endbadgovernance protest scheduled to begin tomorrow, August 1, 2024, which impact cannot easily be predicted. These could have been two important reasons, but the organisers felt that the event must go on and here we are in flesh and blood. This could only mean that this is the appointed time! As our people say, ‘ukwa luo ogie, o daa’.
   Second, the fact that the summit is happening today, just about one week after the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill was signed into law by the President, is another remarkable sign that, ‘na akachukwu di n’ije a’. Third, the theme of the summit, is very apt and relevant. Reflecting further, I believe that, it is perhaps possible that God ordained this as the first public stakeholder engagement or townhall gathering to be convened since enabling the South East Development Commission, to perhaps, provide some direction, content and character to help in the successful implementation of the Commission’s programmes and activities. The point to also note is this, the fact that the NUJ is convening this summit, at this time, on this topic, in this zone, clearly renews the impetus that the journalism profession remains a vital estate of the realm, a critical agenda setting platform for development and nation building, a conscience of the people, and the watchdog of society.
   Fourthly, and more personal; probably unknown to the organisers, the topic of my Ph.D thesis is Leadership and the Political and Economic Development of South Eastern Nigeria, 1960-2007. The core logic of my thesis is that economic development is the function of, and driven by, political leadership. Bad leadership retards development while good leadership promotes and generates development. So, for me the first key to a robust economic development of the South East, is leadership, and if I have to be more specific, I would say, political leadership.
   It is for these 4 reasons that this summit should be considered more seriously by everyone here and by extension, every South Easterner. Indeed, I had to rewrite this lecture, to incorporate some perspectives that were not apparent when it was first written in December. The reality we must face, bu na ebe Onye bi, Ka Ona Awachi.
   While I therefore congratulate the leadership and entire members of the NUJ South East Zone led by Sir Emmanuel Ifesinachi, for being a usable vessel to organise this auspicious event, I must not fail to commend our son and brother, Comrade Dr Chris Ikechukwu Isiguzo, MFR, mnipr, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, for giving leadership to the Union in the last five years. He has demonstrated effective and constructive visibility for the NUJ. We are not surprised, because while he is an accomplished journalist he is also a certified public relations practitioner. In fact, as a good leader that he is, he used his office and network to widely open the door for his colleagues in the journalism profession to also enroll and be certified as members of NIPR, thereby facilitating them to have the license to become public relations practitioners at a concessionary rate. What he has done, is to get two for the price of one. What this tells us is that for leaders to remain relevant, they must add value to the led. As his name is, I would say that his head is firmly on his shoulders, ‘Isiguzoro’.
   Since this lecture is not about Chris Isiguzo and his legacies, allow me to now transit to the main business of the day.
2. Now To Our Business for Today
   I am asked to speak on the topic, South East: A Robust Economic Blueprint for Sustainable Development. I must confess that three aspects of this topic bothered me a bit. First is the word Robust, which refers to “strong, healthy, rich, and vigorous”. The second is the word Blueprint which speaks to a “detailed outline, model or plan of action” for something. I am not quite sure how robust and detailed my presentation is intended to be, given the very wide scope of the topic and limited time available. The third is determining the extent NUJ South East intends to go with the outcome of a paper on this subject. Like the wise people would say, time will tell!
   In the course of research for this paper, I realised that a lot of work has been done in this area by many interested parties; with a lot of summits, conferences and other gatherings hosted on similar topics by various organisers. So, the issue for me is what is more to be said that has not been said on this matter, or is it a case of, ‘ekwulu ekwu melu onu, anulu alu melu nti’. If that is the case, then we should keep talking, hoping that one day, ‘ndi ana agwa ga anu’; so long as, na agara asi anyi metu onye inagwa aka!
   In the light of the above, I decided to approach the topic from a fresh perspective, incorporating what seems to be acknowledged as already known popular views, and what to the best of my knowledge, may not have been formally articulated to also constitute important components of a robust blueprint for sustainable economic development of the South East. Hence, I have written this paper from the perspective of, the political economy of South East sustainable development.
3. Basic Facts to Note
   Let me begin from the basic, by asking what exactly is the South East zone? Below are some facts to note:
   i. South East zone comprises 5 States – Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi;
   ii. The States, which were part of the Eastern Region in Nigeria’s First Republic lie at the heart of the Igbo nation;
   iii. One of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria with an estimated population of over 22 million (NPC, 2020 and NBC, 2020) and 36 million (Wikipedia, July 2024);
   iv. 18% of the total population of Nigeria (Wikipedia, July 2024);
   v. It is widely believed that due to the itinerant and migrant nature of Ndigbo, almost the same size of population is resident in different parts of the country, while about half the same number may be resident in different parts of the world;
   vi. Land Area – 29,388k m2 11,347 sq mi (Wikipedia, July 2024);
   vii. Major Languages – Igbo, English, Ezza, Ikwo, Idoma, Igala, Izi, Mgbo, etc (Wikipedia, July 2024);
   viii. viii.Sizable population of Igbos are also found in Delta and Rivers States in the current South-South geographical zone of Nigeria.
   ix. Boundaries – River Niger on the west, riverine Niger Delta on the south, flat North Central to the north, and Cross River on the east (Wikipedia, July 2024);
   x. Predominant Subgroups – The South East is predominantly Igbo ethnically and linguistically. Various Igbo subgroups and their dialects in South East are: Owerri people, Mbaise people, Nkanu people, Ngwa people, Omambala people, Nsukka people, Enuani people, Ezza people, Afikpo people, Arochukwu people, Oguta people, Aguata/Orumba, Okigwe people, Egbema people, Izzi people, Effium people, Idemili people, Agbaja people, Ikwo people, Ndoki people, Abriba people, Ohafia people Orlu people, Ohaji people, Ohaozara people, Anaedo people and many others (Wikipedia, July 2024); And I dare Wikipedia to add Nri people!
   xi. Current Challenge – The zone has recently been plagued by crisis as the call for secession and the creation of the State of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) by the leader of the movement in person of Nnamdi Kanu. Nnamdi Kanu declared Biafra but some leaders have said that he does not represent the voice of the Igbo nation and that he lacks the capacity to do so.
   xii. The (IPOB) has recently introduced the sit-at–home order in the zone to press home their demand as well as in solidarity for their leader – Nnamdi Kanu that has been detained by the Nigerian Government. It is estimated that the sit-at-home in South East cost the geopolitical zone more than 7.6 trillion naira losses within two years. On July 21, 2023, Nnamdi Kalu through his lawyer and IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, cancelled the Monday IPOB sit-at-home order imposed on South East States (Wikipedia, July 2024); However, the policy has lingered and its impact not receding.
   xiii. xiii.Economic Activities – Commercial and trading activities with small and medium indigenous industries that are manufacturing goods and services. The main agricultural products in the zone are yam, cassava, rice, and cocoyam. The zone has solid minerals and nature resources such as crude oil, natural gas, bauxite, iron ore, sandstone, lignite, clay, coal, tin and columbite (Wikipedia, July 2024);
   xiv. xiv. Origin of the Igbos (or Ibos as some prefer) – This is intensely disputed with so many accounts not yet well supported by strong archeological evidences. Since the disputations around the history of the Igbos are hardly the concern of today’s lecture, it is better, as they say, to let it lie for today.
4. Perception by Immediate Neighbours and in General
   It is said that perception often becomes reality. The way a people is perceived influences the way they are regarded, treated and respected or derided. These attributes eventually have implications on opportunities available to such people to be converted to development or allowed to become a source of underdevelopment. I therefore, consider it important at this point to highlight briefly the way people of the South East are perceived by other Nigerians, especially our immediate neighbours.
   i. Igbos love money;
   ii. Igbos can do anything for money;
   iii. Onyigbo can sell his mother for money;
   iv. Igbos are too aggressive;
   v. Igbos are too loud;
   vi. Igbos are domineering;
   vii. Igbos cannot be trusted with power, they will divide Nigeria;
   viii. Igbos are too individualistic;
   ix. Igbos don’t love themselves, they pull down one another
   x. Igbos are ‘intra competitive’. Assuming the above 10 negative attributes truly represent who and what the Igbos are, it is also imperative to note that there are 15 positive attributes about the Igbos of South East Nigeria. Until recently, these attributes are discussed and acknowledged mostly by those that benefit from these attributes, but mainly in their bedrooms. These include:
   i. Igbos are prudent in managing money and resources;
   ii. Igbos are very hardworking;
   iii. Igbos are development-oriented;
   iv. Igbos are resilient;
   v. Igbos are good entrepreneurs; they make something out of nothing;
   vi. Igbos take very good care of their wives;
   vii. Igbos are industrious;
   viii. Igbos are intelligent;
   ix. Igbos are adventurous;
   x. Igbos can survive anywhere;
   xi. Igbos are bold;
   xii. Igbos are creative and ingenious;
   xiii. Igbos work together when they identify a common interest;
   xiv. Igbos fight together when they face a common threat; etc.
   Haven looked at the basics about the people of the East, Ndigbo, it is now time to delve into the matter of development.
5. The Essence of Development
   Development is unarguably one of the most intensely debated concepts in social theory, especially given its openness to various ideological interpretations and underpinning’s. Thus, people and institutions of diverging interests and ideologies, appropriate the term for their own use. Thankfully, I have been spared the task of discussing development broadly, with the mandate to focus on sustainable development. Notwithstanding, we shall look at some thoughts on the essence of development.
   Amartaya Sen, the acclaimed Indian Economist and 1998 Nobel Prize Winner posits in his influential book- Development as Freedom, freedom is both the primary objective and principal means of development and that any development so called that does not primarily advance human freedom and security begs another name.
   According to Bernstein (1973), “development was initially conceived as a state of blissful economy symbolized in high Gross National Product (GNP)”. However, he adds that, in a broad sense development transcends the limiting terms of economic growth to embrace such features of social justice, equality of opportunities, full employment, generally available social service, equitable distribution of income and basic political freedoms. He remarked that in a conventional usage, development means the process of developing either quantitatively or qualitatively.
   Making reference to the fourth national development plan, Nwosu (1985), states that the “development question has often been couched in material things, rather than people, in terms of creation than evolution”. True development, he insists, must mean the development of man. He maintains that development does not start with goods and things, it starts with people. No wonder, Gana (1983) asserts that, “people matter more than things”. Onimode and Synge (1993), lend their voices to affirm that, “the consideration of social justice and human satisfaction were essential components of any adequate conception of development”.
   There is yet another dimension. Rodney W. (1972) for instance, describes development as a many-sided process. At the level of the individual, it implies increase in skills and capacity, greater freedom, creating self-discipline, responsibility and material well-being. Corroborating Rodney’s view, Todaro (1982), states that “development is a multidimensional process involving the re-organization and re-orientation of the entire economic and social system”. This involves, in addition to improvement of income and input, radical changes in institutional, social and administrative structures, as well as in popular attitudes, customs and beliefs.
   Seers D. (1969) based his definition of “development on the improvement and living conditions of individuals”. He argues therefore, that “the questions to ask a country’s development are: what has been happening to poverty? What has been happening to unemployment? What has been happening to inequality? If all three of these have declined from high levels, then beyond doubt this has been a period of development for the country concerned. If one or two of these central problems have been growing worse, especially if all three have, it would be strange to call the result ‘development’ even if per capital income doubled”.
   Let us now look at some misconceived notion about development.
6. Misconceived Notion of Development
   Arising from the above, it becomes clear from modern development theorists’ perspective that economic growth alone is not a sufficient indicator of development. These scholars argue that economic growth (measured in per capital income) does not reflect in the living condition of the poor masses. Corroborating this view, Todaro (1982) argues that there are for example a “number of developing countries which experienced relatively high rates of growth of per capital income … but which simultaneously showed little or no improvement or witnessed an actual decline in employment, equality and real incomes of the bottom 40 per cent of their population”. By earlier growth definitions, these countries were developing. By the more recent poverty, equality and development criteria, however, they were not. This therefore calls to question the relevance of the conception of development defined in terms of growth. It must also include change.
   In agreement with the above viewpoint, Nwosu (1985) states that, “real development therefore involves a structural transformation of the economy, society, politics and culture that permits a redirection of science and technology, the self-generating and self-perpetuating use of development of the people’s potentialities and improvement in the machinery of administration and productive institutions to meet the rising demands of society”. Unless change permeates into the nooks and crannies of the society, it cannot talk of development.
   He goes on to say that it will also involve widespread education and literacy, a relative freedom from external bondage and elimination of exploitation, a fair and equitable distribution of social wealth and the presence of a ruling elite that is strong enough to eliminate the corrupt elements in its own ranks, relatively competent and seriously devoted to public welfare and the reform of existing inequalities.
   I believe that the above would suffice to make our case on the misconceived notion about development. Let us now proceed to look at the role of political leadership in driving economic development.
7. Politics, the Economy and Development
   Many, in my school of thought, believe without equivocation that, development or lack of it in any society is to a large extent determined by the dynamics of politics and political leadership. In other words, people believe that politics influences the processes of development or otherwise. The extent of development in any system is a function that depends on actions or inactions of the political leadership or group that constitute the leadership class in the system, who are mostly within the ranks of the elites.
   Central to the development of any society is the politics of man and his quest to dominate, manipulate and control his environment. This manifests in two major dimensions – internal and external.
   The internal dimension represents the manoeuvring, control, agitations and manipulation of instruments of power and authority by the elites to influence affairs of the state, either positively or negatively. In such circumstances, policies of the state are designed first with the intentions to suit the interests of the select few and strengthen their control of power before considerations are given to the overall interest of the larger society. Writing along this line, Weber (1947), posits that politics means striving to share power or striving to influence the distribution of power among individuals and groups within a state.
   On the other hand, external dimension relates to the manipulation of affairs and exploitation of resources of a State, either by force, coercion or subtlety. This tendency operates either directly through institutions and structures already erected for such purposes by the external force or indirectly through internal colluding structures, put in place as puppet authorities and middle agents to control political and economic resources of the state.
   Sometimes however, in some scenarios, the manifestation of both dimensions can become apparent. Wright (1955) defined this phenomenon as the art of influencing, manipulating or controlling others so as to advance the purpose of one against the opposite of others.
   Therefore, in the struggle to control his environment, man seems to have found in politics a dependable ally and tool, to either facilitate and promote development or encourage underdevelopment, at any given time and in any society, depending however on the prevailing interest needed to be protected. Howbeit, the concern here is that such influence could either be exerted positively for good of the people or negatively to harm the society. Aristotle (in Baker, 1962) admits that politics and political relationships are at the core of human existence since it involves people, power and influence.
   From the foregoing, it goes without further evidence, that the level of development or otherwise in any society is determined by the politics of influence, power and control, either by internal structures within the system or external structures operating from outside the system through internal colluding structures; both either individually or collectively manipulating the affairs of State to their advantage. Whichever is the case, the underlying fact is that political leadership influences development in any society.
   There is no doubt that the issue of political leadership and development is very important. The characters that man the society dominantly play a significant role in sharpening the operation and management of the state structure. Government itself can only succeed if the society is organized with all the required inputs provided by the state to make them viable.
   According to Adam Smith, political leadership is concerned with five key objectives, namely:
   i. Determination of objectives;
   ii. Initiation of policy;
   iii. Manipulation of means;
   iv. Control over the instruments of action; and
   v. Stimulation of coordinated action.
   These objectives and policies are implemented by the administration in any society in order to generate development, be it economic or otherwise. This brings us to the next logical issue of good governance.
8. Good Governance and Economic Development
   Since our logic is that leadership, in this case political leadership, sets development agenda, albeit, economic development, it goes without saying that the culprit to lack of development is the absence of good governance. Societies that want development must therefore ensure that they insist on the enthronement of good leadership that will bring about good governance, beginning with the quality and even quantity of the leadership they have, the way such leaders are recruited or selected; the character, capacity and competence of such leaders. While loyalty is very important in the choice of political leadership, it must not constitute the first and last consideration in recruiting or selecting leaders.
   Soludo (2005), examines the link between “good governance and development”. He asserts that good governance, peace and basic economic freedom promote rapid economic development, and protect private enterprise and property rights. He infers further that broad-based economic prosperity sustains democracy whereas wide spread poverty and ignorance undermine it. He advises that, for sustainable development and democracy to flourish in Nigeria, fundamental changes are required in the constitution, the electoral system, the fiscal federalism, as well as a gamut of legal institutional reforms that are developmental and promotive of private enterprise and competition. The major cause of slow … development of Nigeria, he maintains, is that politicians have not yet grappled with the fact of the supremacy of institutions over individuals, and that is why the losses of personal power, the temporary nature of their political eminence, remains difficult for many political leaders to swallow.
   Gana J. (2005) aligns that pragmatic policies and dreams must be translated into practical action with concrete results which positively touch the people. Good governance, he argues, promotes development by igniting genuine processes of transforming poverty into prosperity, replacing hunger with food security, exchanging ignorance with sound education, conquering darkness with light, and improving the quality of life of the vast majority.
   It is now time to look at the subject of sustainability in development.
9. Understanding Sustainable Development
   Sustainable Development has been an important topic of discussion in both national and international fora. It has been a topic of interest because of its role in the assessment of human development all over the world, especially for policy making. Sustainable Development is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are in harmony with nature and the state of eco system.
   Simply put, it is balancing the fulfilment of human needs with the protection of the natural environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. The term was used by the Brundtland Commission in 1987, which coined what has become the most often quoted definition of sustainable development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Its successful implementation of sustainable development principle, requires integrated policy, effective planning, and attentive social learning processes; its political viability depends on the full support of the people it affects through their governments, their social institutions, and their private activities” (Udol et al, 1997).
   Generally, there are three basic goals of sustainable development. Udol et al, (1997) supplies the three basic goals as, i) ensuring environmental protection and stewardship from even “development activity engaged in by man in his environment”; ii) ensuring economic and fiscal vitality of every development endeavour; and iii) ensuring that it is desired for social and intergenerational equity in human society.
   The sustainable development debate is based on the assumption that societies need to properly manage three types of capital – economic capital, social capital, and natural capital, which may be non-sustainable and whose consumption might be irreversible. The ability of the leadership in any system to carefully harness and efficiently manage these capitals is what results in development that is sustainable.
   It is at this point that we need to look at the highlights of the 2015 United Nations intervention on the subject, now known as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

10.United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030)
The General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2015, adopted a revamped and more holistic strategy to drive global development, named the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a 2030 sunset. The core objective of the 17 broad SDGs are to, transform the world, with the motto, Leave No one Behind.
In summary, the 17 components of the SDGs are:
i. No Poverty – End poverty in all its forms everywhere; eradicate extreme poverty
currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day;
ii. Zero Hunger – End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture;
iii. Good Health and Well-being – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages;
iv. Quality Education – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all;
v. Gender Equality – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls;
vi. Clean Water and Sanitation – Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all;
vii. Affordable and Clean Energy – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all;
viii. Decent Work and Economic Growth – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all;
ix. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation;
x. Reduced Inequality – Reduce inequality within and among countries;
xi. Sustainable Cities and Communities – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable;
xii. Responsible Consumption and Production – Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns;
xiii. Climate Action – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
xiv. Life Below Water – Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development;
xv. Life on the Land – Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss;
xvi. Peace and Justice Strong Institutions – Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels;
xvii. Partnerships to Achieve the Goal – Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
To the best of my knowledge, the idea of SDGs is to give direction and nudge leaders at all levels, across the world, that these are the critical areas they should pay attention to in driving development to their citizens. However, the issue bu ndi agwa ha aga anu? I dare say that as grandiose and beautiful as the SDGs sounds, I have the impression to say that to many of our leaders down here, it looks to them like ‘akuko na egwu’ Mike Ejeagha or worse still, akuko aja mbene. Why do I say so? Look at the 17 goals and look at the South East, tell us where we are, 9 years into the 15 years lifespan. Somebody may even say, United Nations oga akpoluha police? Or even saying peeping from their political corners and saying to ‘bia metu onye inagwa aka’!
For me, the peculiarity of the SDGs approach is in the last SDGs goal (#17), which encourages all countries to generate internal strategies for goal progress, while exploring both regional and global collaborations to enhance the impact of national efforts. This, in part, is the objective of the need for collaboration across different kinds of organizations, sectors, institutions, regions, impact areas and even individuals. Again, I dare say that this is where the issue lies. It feels like I am hearing someone saying, ‘Upe, o soso igenerate internal strategies! If it was in the contrary, isi aka dili umuibe ko osi di anyi ta.
Given that we are trying to produce a blueprint for South East development, it would be necessary to look at an available template of past effort in this direction, as encapsulated in the leadership of Dr Michael Ihonukara Okpara as Premier of Eastern Nigeria.

11. A Glimpse from the Past: The Okparanomics Legacy Template
    While it is true that Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara is one of the most impactful political leaders in the history of what today is the South East Nigeria, beside his mentor and political leader Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, it is important to note that the situation today is very different from his time. For instance, the Eastern Nigeria Dr Okpara led, was a cohesive, monolithic entity, spanning across the current 9 states in south east and south zones. Notwithstanding, it does not in any way diminish the impact of his legacy as a successful leader and an outstanding role model in effective and exceptional leadership of all times. Okpara was instrumental in laying a solid foundation for the socioeconomic transformation of the people of eastern Nigeria before the civil war.
    In highlighting a summation of Okpara’s development legacy, permit me to draw from a seminal lecture delivered in 1987 by the international celebrated economist, Dr. Pius Nwabufo Okigbo. Titled Okparanomics, Okigbo argued that Okpara’s background as a medical doctor caused him to embrace Humanism, as a central principle of public policy, with the people at the centre of development, especially the poor who the government have a primary responsibility to help. According to Okigbo, while he acknowledged the important place of the citizens, Okpara’s development philosophy, also recognized the essentials of a strong economy which will provide the resources to enable government implement social welfare programs like affordable healthcare, subsidized housing and free education, among others.
    As Okigbo explained, Okpara’s government adopted an integrated approach to development around 5 key pillars namely, Agriculture, with a comprehensive approach that included Rice and Grains, Livestock and adoption of latest technologies in agricultural development; Industrial Development, conceived in terms of clusters around major cities of the region under the management of Eastern Nigerian Development Corporation; Infrastructure, undoubtedly a key legacy of his administration. In fact, in six short years, he constructed massive network of roads that not only linked the major cities of the region but also key communities, especially where major government investments like the farm settlements were located; Education, he supported the development of University of Nigeria Nsukka, raised the standard of secondary level education to ensure quality feed into the university which would ensure a well-trained workforce for the region, and introduced universal free primary education in the Eastern region; and Healthcare, his background in medicine led him to prioritize public healthcare throughout his 6-year Premiership. He championed the establishment of cottage hospitals in rural communities where the vast majority of the people of the region lived.
    Dr. Okpara embodied the Humanism he preached and lived it in and out of office and to the very end of his illustrious life. He epitomized transformational leadership and laid a solid foundation for the political administration of eastern Nigeria.
    While we celebrate Dr. Okpara, I must also acknowledge that good and progressive efforts have been made by some Ndigbo, as well as past and current South East leaders, at political, community, organizational and individual levels to address the challenge of development in the zone. I will highlight some of these efforts in the next section.
12. Recent Efforts to Chart a New Course for South East Development.
    On September 30, 2023, the South East Security and Economic Summit was convened in Owerri. In attendance were the governors, political, religious, business, community, and civil society leaders from the zone, as well as intellectuals and leaders of thought. From the deliberations, it was clear the primary focus was on ending the insecurity in the zone which has paralyzed socioeconomic activities in the past 4 years and brought untold hardship on the citizens. While the lingering Monday sit-at-home was initially tied to Biafran separatists, it appears to have also been hijacked by other elements who kidnap routinely for ransom. Addressing the insecurity, especially the sit-at-home is fundamental for there can be no development without security. It is a universal truth that peace and security are preconditions for development.
    Key speakers at the summit understandably dwelt on the urgent need to end the insecurity, as well as chart a new course for South East development. The host governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Hon. Francis Nwifuru (represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Patricia Obila) both stressed the need for a return to traditional and family values as a means of ending the insecurity. Governor Uzodimma particularly emphasized the need to engage at the grassroots community level. Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah equally stressed the need for engagement at the community level using non-kinetic approach to foster dialogue with people driving the insecurity. Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Oti lamented the negative impact of insecurity on the economy of the zone and underscored the need to dialogue with the youths to better understand their issues.
    However, former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy and current Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, appeared to set the agenda for a post-insecurity effort to more collectively address the developmental challenges of the South East as a zone. According to her, internal divisions among the Igbos and their tendency to attack and undermine each other is the major obstacle to Igbo unity. Yet, she described the gathering as ‘extraordinary’ which if successful could lead to the transformation of the south east as an oasis of good governance in Nigeria and the rest of the continent. As she explained:
    On the challenges, I am sure you want me to mention the gaps in infrastructure. Yes, that is the challenge and we have to come to that. And I don’t think it is our biggest challenge. Our biggest challenge in the South-East is itself. We have often been our own worst enemies. We have allowed ourselves to be divided ….We have lost focus. We have lost sight of our biggest community assets. We are fragmented as a people. We don’t support each other. Instead, we attack and undermine each other. We are too individualistic. An
    individual can be good but not better than when we come together as a body. …But there is a bright side to this challenge. The big problems are us and it means that the solution lies in our hands. If we can build a sense of common purpose and coalition, we can solve any problem. We have to do that through joint leadership as you are taking this step today. …we must fully own up to our problems while looking at the many available solutions. The South-East has so many talents and opportunities. I think they can plan how to explore them all to the benefit of the region and its people.
    Similarly, Enugu State Governor, Mr. Peter Mbah stressed the need for zonal economic integration around a, common market that will be a centre that will grow the economy of the region and from there, we look at how to create a comparative advantage for the different states of the region’. …We now look at the key enablers which include road transportation. We also look at how we construct a ring road that connects the South-East region. At the end of this summit, we should employ the best of our brains to implement the ideas we have gathered here today.
    In his remarks, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, felt the issue of insecurity in the South East is being over dramatized and argued that Ndi Igbo should match on regardless as many other places face similar or even worse security challenges. According to him,
    I have heard the speeches given, books of lamentations. It is very good to lament but I would rather like to see a glass as half-full than half-empty. The South-East is ready for business; the South-East is ripe for business and we must all believe in our ability to turn things around and get the South-East going again. …That must be the outcome of this particular summit. We can lament about insecurity and so on; this is not the most insecure place in the world, other places are thriving despite their insecurity.
    He also cautioned South East indigenes to look up and stop seeing only gloom and doom; rather they should invest at home and not wait for all the problems to be solved by the governors before they can come to invest in the zone. Soludo emphasised the application of SDGs Goal 17 on collaboration and partnership, urging that,
    the South-East renaissance should not stop at self-belief, the region should also partner with the rest of the country, the diaspora, and the international community. …we need not just ourselves, we need Nigeria. Ndigbo need Nigeria and Nigeria needs Ndigbo. Ndigbo need Africa and the World and the World and Africa need Ndigbo. As an itinerant people, we cannot be an intolerant people. …we need the partnership of everybody, partnership of the rest of the country, partnership of the diaspora, and partnership with the international community.
    The Summit has come and gone, whether anything substantive and sustainable comes out of it remains to be seen.
    There is need to acknowledge that this is not the first time we are having such a summit, both at the levels of South East Governors, and other leading organisations in the zone. I have only highlighted the most recent due to constraint of time and that nothing different could actually be highlighted from previous exercises.
    Haven spent a considerable time and energy to lay the foundation and build a narrative, I will now proceed to place before you what I consider, in my opinion, to constitute a workable economic blueprint for sustainable development of the South East.
13. Robust Economic Blueprint for Sustainable Development of South East: From the known to the Unknown.
    I have divided this section into 2 parts – Known and Unknown. Part One deals with the known, usually considered and certain components that we have become very familiar with, which are already out there in our systems, always looking for attention. Part Two are the unknown and mostly unconsidered components that have always been there, confronting our efforts, but hardly noticed and given proper attention by both leaders and citizens. Yet, we may not be able to go far in our focus, vision and desire for a robust transformation of our zone, without deliberate, intentional and systemic attention to these areas of unknown or unconsidered areas.
14. Part One – The Known and Considered Components
    To arrive at this stage, I commissioned an expert to conduct a survey/study involving respondents from the 5 South East states and Ndigbo outside the zone. Each respondent was to imagine to be the Governor-General of South East zone and to state what would be his/her 3 priority programmes, and one legacy project to be undertaken in the zone during a term of 4 years. I went further to complement the study with telephone interviews with five experienced and knowledgeable Ndigbo from each of the states in the zone and one other from the former Eastern Nigeria. Analysis of findings of both the survey and interviews show similarities by about 83%. Although the findings may not be new, I decided to go that route to make it fairly scientific and ensure that I got a broad-based content and even context of what is in the hearts of Ndigbo in articulating a blueprint for the sustainable development of their zone.
    I hereby present verbatim, the findings of the survey below:
15. Result of Survey/Study on South East Sustainable Development
    “The results of this study reveal not just the challenges we face, but more importantly, they illuminate the path forward as envisioned by our citizens. From the bustling streets of Enugu to the serene landscapes of Abia, from the innovative hubs of Anambra to the resilient communities of Imo and Ebonyi, our people have spoken with one voice about their dreams for a prosperous Southeast.
    What emerged from this study is a clear consensus around three fundamental pillars of development: robust infrastructure, unwavering security, and quality education. These are not mere wishes, but the bedrock upon which we must build our future.
    As we delve into the insights gleaned from this study, let us remember that each data point represents a voice, a hope, a dream of our people. Let us approach this discussion not just as policymakers or leaders, but as custodians of these aspirations.
    The journey ahead is long, but with the roadmap our citizens have provided, and with our collective commitment, I am confident that we can transform Southeast Nigeria into a beacon of sustainable development in Africa.
    Let us begin this important conversation, guided by the wisdom of our people and united in our resolve to build a brighter future for Southeast Nigeria.
    i. Methodology
    It’s important to understand the methodology and scope of our research. Our objective was clear and focused:
    • to harvest public opinion on the most pressing needs and programmes that should be implemented by the governors of the Southeast for the development of our zone.
    • To ensure a comprehensive and unbiased perspective, we carefully designed our study to capture a diverse range of voices meticulously indexed against key stakeholder groups. This approach allowed us to eliminate any potential zonal bias, ensuring that our findings truly represent the collective voice of the Southeast.
    • On average, we surveyed respondents across the Southeast Zone, giving us a robust dataset to analyze.
    • The survey was conducted over a four-day period, from July 16 to July 19, 2024. This recent timeframe ensures that the opinions and priorities we gathered reflect the current realities and aspirations of our people.
    By employing this rigorous methodology, we’ve created a reliable foundation for understanding the desires and expectations of Southeast Nigerians regarding sustainable development in their region. The insights we’ve gathered are not just numbers on a page, but a clear mandate from our citizens on how they envision the future of the Southeast.
    As we proceed to discuss the findings, let us keep in mind the diverse voices represented in this study – from rural farmers to urban professionals, from young students to experienced elders. Their collective wisdom will hopefully, inform policy decisions that will shape the future of Southeast Nigeria.

ii. Analysis & Insights:
The survey included responses on key programs, legacy aspirations, immediate attention areas, the effectiveness of current leadership, and significant challenges hindering the region’s development.
The data provides a snapshot of public sentiment and priorities, emphasizing areas such as infrastructure, security, and economic development.
Key Findings
• Top Priority Areas
• Significant Legacy
• Immediate Attention Areas
• Current Leadership Effectiveness
• Challenges to Development:

iii. The Whispers of Untapped Potential
The story of Southeast Nigeria’s path to sustainable development is one of engaged citizens with clear visions for their future. In less than three minutes – barely the time it takes to boil an egg – respondents painted a vivid picture of a region transformed by infrastructure, secured by good governance, and propelled by human capital and innovation.
Yet, this story also has its silences. The hesitation to delve into challenges suggests a complex relationship with the obstacles facing the region. It’s as if the people of Southeast Nigeria are poised on the edge of great change, clear-eyed about where they want to go, but still coming to terms with what stands in their way.
This survey doesn’t just provide a list of priorities; it offers a glimpse into the psyche of a region. It reveals a populace that is solutions-oriented, forward-thinking, and deeply invested in their homeland’s future. The high engagement rate whispers of untapped potential – of a public ready to be more involved in shaping their region’s destiny.
For leaders and policymakers, this data is a goldmine. It points to a public ready to engage, to contribute, and to support initiatives that align with their vision of a developed Southeast Nigeria. The challenge now is to transform this engagement from a 3-minute survey into sustained participation in the journey of regional development.
In essence, this survey doesn’t just tell us what Southeast Nigeria needs; it shows us the spirit of its people – optimistic, thoughtful, and eager for progress. It’s a call to action, a roadmap, and a testament to the potential that lies within this vibrant region of Nigeria.
The respondents identified 5 key areas as top priorities for sustainable development:
▪ Infrastructure Development (roads, power, transportation)
▪ Security Enhancement
▪ Education and Skills Development
▪ Economic Empowerment and Industrialization
▪ Agricultural Modernization
▪ Technology and Innovation Promotion

iv. BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE SOUTHEAST NIGERIA
The survey reveals three critical pillars for sustainable development in Southeast Nigeria: infrastructure, security, and education. These priorities emerged consistently across responses, underscoring their fundamental role in fostering economic growth.
• Infrastructure development stood out as a top concern, with respondents emphasizing the need for improved roads, railways, electricity, and port facilities. Many viewed this as the backbone for regional connectivity and economic advancement.
• Security was identified as a crucial prerequisite for development. Respondents stressed that without adequate safety measures, other development initiatives would struggle to take root or succeed.
• Education and skills development completed the triad of priorities. Respondents highlighted the importance of investing in human capital through quality education, vocational training, and digital literacy programs.
These three areas – infrastructure, security, and education – form the foundation of respondents’ vision for a sustainably developed Southeast Nigeria.

v. LEGACY ASPIRATIONS
The significant legacy respondents wish to leave behind centers on transforming Southeast Nigeria into a thriving Economic Hub, characterized by Robust infrastructure, Good governance, and Security.
This vision aims to create sustainable economic opportunities, ensure long-term stability, and improve the quality of life for the people in the region.

FIG 1: LEGACY Aspirations
vi. URGENT PRIORITIES FOR PROGRESS
The survey paints a clear picture: Southeast Nigeria has the potential to thrive. However, several key areas require immediate focus.
• Healthcare emerges as a top concern, with 60% of respondents calling for improved facilities, access to quality services, and a stronger healthcare infrastructure
• Infrastructure also demands urgent attention, echoed by 60% of respondents. Reliable power supply, improved roads, and efficient transportation systems are the arteries of economic activity and social mobility.
• Food security and local job creation are addressed by the focus on agriculture (57.5%).
• Economic development is another critical area, resonating with 57.5% of respondents
• Education (55%) is another vital pillar.

FIG 2: AREAS NEEDING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IN THE SOUTH EAST
vii. The Challenges: Obstacles to Progress
Despite these clearly defined priorities, Southeast Nigeria faces significant challenges that hinder its development:

i. Insecurity: Persistent security issues, including kidnapping and armed conflict, create an unstable environment that deters investment and disrupts daily life.
ii. Poor Infrastructure: Inadequate roads, inconsistent power supply, and limited access to ports and airports hinder connectivity and economic activities.
iii. Leadership and Governance Issues: The lack of political will, insincerity, and unhealthy politics exacerbate the region’s problems, leading to ineffective governance and poor implementation of development projects.
iv. Economic Dependence: Overreliance on federal allocations and limited industrialization restrict economic growth and job creation.
v. Brain Drain and Unemployment: High levels of unemployment and the emigration of skilled professionals result in a shortage of a skilled workforce.
vi. Environmental Challenges: Erosion, pollution, and deforestation negatively impact the region’s sustainability and quality of life.
vii. Educational Deficiencies: Poor educational infrastructure and limited access to vocational training hamper the development of a competitive workforce.
viii. Healthcare Deficiencies: Inadequate healthcare infrastructure and services affect the overall well-being and productivity of the population.
Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that involves improving governance, investing in infrastructure, enhancing security, promoting industrialization, and developing human capital through education and healthcare improvements. These insights provide a roadmap for policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize and implement effective development strategies for Southeast Nigeria.
By focusing on these critical areas, Southeast Nigeria can overcome its current obstacles and achieve sustainable development, thereby improving the quality of life for its residents and creating a stable and prosperous region.

viii. Public Sentiment: Evaluating Leadership
Mixed Sentiment: The survey results indicate a mixed sentiment among respondents regarding the effectiveness of the current political leadership:

1. Room for Improvement (53.85%):
   • The majority of respondents believe that the current leadership is somewhat addressing the needs of the region but acknowledge that there is significant room for improvement.
   • This sentiment suggests that while some efforts may be in place, they are not sufficient or fully effective in meeting the region’s development needs.
2. Ineffectiveness (46.15%):
   • A significant portion of respondents believe that the current political leadership is not addressing the needs of Southeast Nigeria at all.
   • This perception highlights a considerable level of dissatisfaction with the leadership’s performance and points to underlying issues such as inadequate policies, poor implementation, or lack of commitment.
   This dissatisfaction underscores the urgent need for more effective, transparent, and accountable governance.

FIG 3: Public Sentiment: Evaluating Leadership
ix. Implications
The results indicate that there is a critical need for more effective leadership that can:
• Implement Comprehensive Policies: Develop and execute policies that address the core challenges of the region, such as insecurity, poor infrastructure, and economic development.
• Enhance Governance and Accountability: Improve transparency, reduce corruption, and ensure accountable governance to build trust and deliver tangible results.
• Engage Stakeholders: Foster collaboration with local communities, businesses, and civil society to create inclusive and sustainable development strategies.

x. CONCLUSION: A REGION AT A CROSSROAD
The study paints a picture of a region at a crossroads, facing significant challenges but also brimming with potential. The people of Southeast Nigeria envision a future
• where modern infrastructure connects thriving economic hubs
• where security and good governance provide a stable foundation for growth, and
• where investments in education and technology create opportunities for all.
• They dream of transforming their region into a “South East Economic Corridor” – a model of sustainable development in Africa.
• This vision sees traditional strengths in agriculture modernized and integrated with new industrial and technological capabilities.
• It’s a future where brain drain is reversed, with the region’s talented youth finding ample opportunities at home.
• However, the path to this vision is not without obstacles. The current reality of infrastructure deficits, security challenges, and governance issues looms large.
• The public’s assessment of current leadership suggests a hunger for more effective governance to turn these dreams into reality.”

16. Further thoughts on the 3 Key Priorities of the Study Findings
    It would be observed from the findings above that there are six priority areas identified by the respondents. These are:
    i. Infrastructure Development (roads, power, transportation)
    ii. Security
    iii. Education and Skills Development
    iv. Economic Empowerment and Industrialization
    v. Agricultural Modernization
    vi. Technology and Innovation Promotion However, I will elucidate further on the top three, to bring out some perspectives that a new blueprint should consider.

i. Infrastructure
The type of Infrastructure we should be seeking in the South East today, should be beyond building mere roads, bridges, providing portable water, etc. The infrastructure we seek must be such that would integrate our zone into a formidable hub for solid and sustainable economic prosperity and development. There must be a serious rethinking that will ignite the use of infrastructure as a strategy to reinvent and transform the South East from a molecular zone to a wholistic hub. The South East is stronger, bigger and better together, and unfortunately weaker fragmented. We must reject every effort to continue to programme and fragment us into individual cocoons of weak and powerless entities. This would not mean that any state should lose its individual identity. Not at all! However, it is in building a stronger whole, a bigger and stronger block, that the individual units would derive more strength, more relevance and greater respect.
Indeed, to turn the South East into a truly functional economic hub, South East governments must ensure the provision of adequate infrastructure to foster the integration of cities across the zone. These include integrative roads network for the transportation of goods and people across the zone, light and affordable rail system, high speed internet connectivity, and other means of communication that will efficiently drive e-commerce and digital economy broadly. The South East must also continue to pressure the federal government to fully dredge the River Niger so that the long proposed Port in Onitsha can take in large cargo ships. A port in Onitsha will undoubtedly transform economic activities in the zone as it will instantly become the second busiest wharf in Nigeria after Lagos.
This is where we must take advantage of the recently approved South East Development Commission (SEDEC) to build one strong and powerful zone that can never be ignored by anyone, locally, nationally and internationally. I make bold to state categorically, that we have all the resources required to accomplish this. It is a similar platform, Eastern Nigeria Development Commission (ENDC) that Dr Okpara used to deliver integrative infrastructure for then Eastern Nigeria. Today, that same vehicle has been handed over to us. We must now show the ingenuity in us. It is what we do with that vehicle that will make Nigeria to look for the South East.
God indeed works in mysterious ways!

ii. Security – Human Security
In seeking the provision of adequate security for the zone, it is necessary to make it wholesome and ell encompassing. The security we need should centre around the approach of human security. Human security is different from personal security. We have prioritised personal security over human security, which explains why it seems like only big men and women are secure, while citizens are left vulnerable.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1994, painstakingly considered and carefully articulated what constitutes human security. This was eventually passed by the United Nations and now cited as United Nations General Assembly Resolution 66/29 on Human Security, which explains it as “an approach to assist Member States in identifying and addressing widespread and cross-cutting challenges to the survival, livelihood and dignity of their people.” According to the U.N., Human Security calls for “people-centred, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented responses that strengthen the protection and empowerment of all people.” Human Security hinged on 3 core freedoms – Freedom from Want (e.g. poverty, infectious diseases, basic needs, environmental degradation i.e. Development;) Freedom from Fear (e.g. Conflicts, Violence, Crime- i.e. Peace); & Freedom to live in Dignity (e.g. Non-discrimination, Exclusion etc. – i.e. Human Rights). In other words, this type of Security must provide Development, Peace and Human Rights, to be meaningful and beneficial to the citizens.
Broadly, Human Security has 7 sometimes overlapping dimensions-
i. Economic Security – e.g. Persistent poverty, Unemployment which are often systematic and structural;
ii. Food Security – issues around hunger and famine, whether natural or deliberate (e.g. political actions)
iii. Health Security – e.g. protection from infectious diseases, unsafe food, malnutrition, lack of access to basic health care, etc.
iv. Environmental Security – protection from environmental degradation, resources depletion, Natural disasters, protection of the environment and Climate Change mitigation
v. Personal Security – Protection from physical violence, Crime, terrorism, domestic violence, child labour, among others.
vi. Community Security – protection from inter-ethnic, religious and other types of identity-based conflicts and tensions; and finally,
vii. Political Security – freedom of political association, the right to vote in free and fair elections, freedom of expression, sundry abuse of civil liberties and human rights, etc.
Evidently, Human Security is comprehensive in its range of freedoms, even as it is context-specific recognizing the peculiarities of each society. It is also prevention-oriented and proactive in its design. Finally, it is people-centred recognizing that the security of people and communities should be accorded as much, if not greater recognition, than the security of the state and its officials, as is often the case.
Just like the SDGs, this review of the global framework of Human Security in the broader context of Sustainable Development raises the question if Nigeria and the South East zone in particular are at pace with its ideals. Again, I think the answer unfortunately is a definitive No.

iii. Education – Human Capital Development
The 3rd leg of the top 3 priority areas chosen by the respondents is Education. Again, we must ask ourselves, what does education mean and what kind of education should we seek.
A critical component of both the SDGs and Human Security, reflective of the paradigm shift from palliatives to empowerment, is Human Capital Development, which broadly speaks to improving the skills, knowledge, abilities and overall potential of people within a society or organization. This arises from the recognition that individuals are valuable assets whose contributions and productivity can be considerably enhanced through such activities as mentorship, education, skill-building programs, and various forms of career development initiatives.
Driven by the need to equip people with the skills and capacities to thrive in both their individual and professional lives, Human Capital Development is therefore indispensable to today’s primarily Knowledge Economy in which ideas and knowledge majorly drive growth and development in contrast to the old system that was almost entirely built around natural resources. The emergent Knowledge Economy demands, among other things, the retooling of the education system and curriculum to deliver the skills and capacities, including entrepreneurial knowledge needed to realize national developmental goals. This should be the quality and quantity of education we seek.
Not surprisingly, the World Bank Group in 2022 ranked Nigeria’s Human Capital Development as among the worst in the world. According to the report, learning poverty, which captures 10-year-olds’ ability to understand simple sentences or perform basic numeracy tasks likely proliferated in Nigeria during the Covid-19 pandemic.

17. Where is South East Today on Formal Education?
    I feel encouraged to mention that the South East may not be doing badly in the area of education.
    A 2022 survey of Basic Education in public schools across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, ranked states of the South East zone among the best. The survey conducted by a civil society organization Youthhub with support of Christian Aid considered, among other things, access to education, quality of teaching and learning outcomes ranked the following as the best performing 11 States – Ondo (98%), FCT (96%), Ebonyi (90%), Rivers (85%), Imo (80%), Anambra (79%), Enugu (77%), Ekiti (77%), Bayelsa (75%), Delta (75%), and Lagos (75%).
    Also, in the past 5 years, data from a variety of sources show that high schools in the South East have been among the best performing in the annual West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations. The 2022 figures show the following as the top 11 states – Enugu: 93.9%; Edo: 93.5%; Benue: 91.7%; Ebonyi: 91.3%; Anambra: 91.2%; Cross River: 90.6%; Rivers: 88.1%; Delta: 87.7%; Bayelsa: 86.4%; Abia: 86.1%; Imo: 85.9%.
    Undoubtedly, from the above, the South East is doing well with respect to basic and secondary education, but as with everything, there is always room for improvement and redirection. This is key to realizing the formal education component of Human Capital Development needs of the zone.
    We will now look at Part Two containing some of the often overlooked and perhaps quietly talked about points about South East Development. I present them as my 12 Clarion Calls to Ndigbo.
18. Part Two – My 15 Clarion Calls to South East (Ndigbo)
    Call I – Rethink, Reengage, and Realign South East Politics
    The first call to a robust economic development of the South East, is leadership, and if I have to be more specific, I would say, political leadership.
    Call II – A Development Ideology for the South East
    I am not sure how far we can go with our quest for development in the absence of a suitable, widely acceptable, and all-encompassing Ideology to guide and drive development in the south east, be it political, economic and social. Ndigbo have always been a people that are aroused to action by circumstance and what they believe in. The question we must ask ourselves today is, what drives Ndigbo today? What do we believe? What guides our actions or even inactions? What defines us? What represents our ‘battle’ cry today as a people?
    Albert Einstein had observed that problems cannot be solved at the current level of awareness that created them. If what we have at the moment is not working, we should rethink and reengage with what will work for us.
    When I was growing up, I used to hear of some normative values that defined our actions such as ‘Njepu’ or ‘Njelita’, which harnesses the truism that travels beyond the local environment enhances experience, exposure and wisdom to drive the common good; ‘Igwe bu ike’, which calls for strength in unity thus supporting the communal spirit and collective will of the community; ‘Onye aghala nwanneya’, which embodies the communal spirit within the context of transformative collegiate leadership; etc. We have been using ‘Aku luo uno’ loosely in recent times. If that is what resonates with our people, it should be adopted.
    Settling for an ideology is not an end to itself, it is only a beginning. We should give content, context, character and operational framework to whatever becomes the ideology we adopt. This is where the values like Ako n’uche – the reservoir of inner wisdom beyond wealth and physical endowments; Ezi okwu bu ndu – encapsulates the belief that untruth in the mouth of a titled chief (an elder, nze n’ozo), would find recognition.

Call III – A New Narrative to Recommunicate the South East
The South East has not been properly communicated – to ourselves, fellow Nigerians, and the global community, in a conscious, deliberate, organized, and well-choreographed manner that will be appealing to others, and elicit understanding, admiration and respect for our people. We have been highly misjudged, misunderstood and tarred with an image that does not represent who we are. This will have to be done within the context of ‘Ta bu gbo’ and cemented by the collective effort of ‘orabuike’ and NOT ‘ikeotuonye’.
The sad thing in this area is that we do not honour and recognize the value that God has bestowed on us. Have we imagined that for the first time in history, four Igbo sons and daughter are leading the four most powerful communication organisations in Nigeria – Chris Isiguzo, President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Eze Anaba, President of Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE); Maureen Chigbo, President of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP); and Ike Neliaku, President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). If it were in other climes that they have these assets in their midst, you can imagine what they would have done with it.
We have a task to design a new narrative to recommunicate Ndigbo, starting with our immediate neighbours to the rest of the world and we have all it takes, within us, to change our narrative, and change our history.

Call IV – A Rebrand Agenda for the South East
One of the essential elements of repositioning and recommunicating the South East is the activation of an appropriate brand identity. The concept of branding is about giving a product an exciting life, beginning with a spectacular name, attractive packaging, and a content that gives value. These qualities form what is called a product’s unique selling point (Jossy Nkwocha (2016). The message is that we have to rebrand the South East, beginning with the creation of a central brand idea to serve as a rallying point for the development of the zone.

Call V – Cultivate Reputation Capital as a Core Asset
Akin to creating a new narrative for Ndigbo is the need to shore up our reputation capital and asset.
Simply put, reputation is the aggregate opinions, beliefs and impressions that people have about someone or something. Though it could be presumed to be an intangible asset, reputation is very key to the quantum value attached to something. Good reputation is an obvious and quick way to determine what kind of person or organisation you are dealing with. Reputation determines the level of respect and acceptability accorded to a person, a people, an organisation, and even a nation. This implies that reputation is not only for humans, it is also important for organizations, businesses, social groups, communities, governments and countries.
The substance of reputation is in the fact that it has vast scope, wide interpretation and universal applicability. The universal importance attached to reputation is egglike such that it could result in disaster if it falls and breaks. Thus, it is highly cherished, therefore must be carefully guarded and seriously protected. This explains why Benjamin Franklin declared that, ‘it takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it’. It could take more than a lifetime to build a reputation and 2 minutes to damage it.
If reputation is this important, how have the Igbos faired as a people in building, managing and maintaining a viable reputation for our identity. How are we perceived? What is our image like before others ethnic nationalities in Nigeria? What is our reputational capital nationally and internationally? As one who has practised public relations for over 3 decades, I can state categorically that I am not aware that Ndigbo as a people, have made any visible effort to undertake an exercise as simple as a perception and reputation audit about us, not to talk of putting in place a mechanism, to address our reputation and assess the quality of our reputational asset. Interestingly, individual Igbo sons and daughters seem to understand the value of building acceptable reputational assets and take steps to enhance it, especially when seeking political offices or corporate appointments.
Sadly, and unknown to us, other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria make deliberate and conscious efforts to engage the services of public relations experts to shore up the chart of their reputation value, position their interest, and use it to set their agenda to prepare for the future.
What if I told you that it took someone 20 years of planning, strategizing, networking, and engaging to become President of Nigeria, and indeed he became. Everything was put on the table, a design was produced, with a workable blueprint that has eventually worked. The principle of ethics and non-disclosure would not allow me to elaborate on this; but suffice it to say that Nigeria is already placed on the table and bargaining has already started, with allotments up to 2031, while we are still licking our wounds over events of 2023.
I stated earlier 10 ways our competitors have deliberately demarketed us and contrasted it with 15 ways we can market our social capital and remarket ourselves as critical national assets that can never be ignored. It is a competitive world, where everybody is in the business of packaging. We must not be left behind.
The point being emphasised is that building a robust and sustainable economic development for South East, should begin with reinventing the people, reinventing our reputational capital, deliberately redesigning how we are perceived, and telling our story the right way to recommunicate Ndigbo. As the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), I can affirm the power of storytelling as a crucial component of reputation building. Global companies like Coca-Cola and Apple invest billions in marketing annually, not merely to maintain but to grow their market presence. In 2023 alone, Coca-Cola spent $5 billion on marketing, while Apple invested $775 million in advertising.

Call VI – A REBIRTH Agenda for the South East
The South East needs a well-designed, planned and coordinated REBIRTH initiative, with focus on attitudinal change and value reorientation. We did this as a pilot in Anambra state in 2009/2010 and it was very successful, the template is still available to be exploited for the benefit of the whole zone.
The South East REBIRTH should be specially designed to operate at three stages, as follow:
i. Value Reorientation and Citizens Education – develop and impart a new mindset, attitude, and culture of excellence;
ii. Skill Acquisition and Capacity Development – give skill to young people to acquire the requisite capacity to be locally relevant and globally competitive;
iii. Economic Empowerment – support those successful from stages i and ii with financial grants to start micro, small and medium businesses as the case may be and help them to build up the enterprises to become employers of labour.
The exciting thing about the first 6 points in this section is that we have the materials, manpower and even the platform required to set the process in motion. One of which is Afia TV in Enugu.

Call VII. Initiate South East Public Officers Forum (SEPOF)
When I was serving in the Office of Political Adviser to the President in 2003, we observed that there was a huge gap and lack of protective cover amongst Anambra state indigenes in federal public service. They lacked confidence, became victimised and felt vulnerable with nobody to run to for protection at their work places. It was a very disturbing and worrying situation. Together with Chuks Obikwelu, whose original idea it was, we approached Chief Simon Okeke. That was how the Anambra State Public Officers Forum (ASPOF) was born in 2004, with Chief Simon Okeke as founding Chairman, Chuks Obikwelu as founding Public Relations Officer and I as founding Secretary. The impact made with the forum within the first year was outstanding; so many projects were attracted to the state through the support given to Anambra sons and daughters in government. The forum fought for them, gave them protection and the confidence they lacked and in return they brought opportunities to their home state.
It is time to explore such opportunity and initiate SEPOF for the entire zone, to help transform the mentality of Ndigbo in federal service from ‘nwokpuru’ to ‘ndisonokwu’. We still have the template and will be willing to offer it to those who can handle and manage it very well. Such things are planned and deliberately executed.

Call VIII. Drive a Shift from Buying and Selling to Manufacturing
A major problem with the Nigeria economy is that we consume far more than we produce, which affects our balance of trade with other countries and puts enormous pressure on the Naira. A sustainable economic blueprint for the south east should strive to reverse this trend. Such a system must incentivize manufacturing, especially High Tech start-ups. The transition from consumption to production is key to the economic transformation of the zone. Again, the focus for a start should be on certain lucrative high-tech start-ups along with their value chains for sustainability. However, this requires a lot of thought, knowledge generation, sensitization and development of technical resources to ensure its effective take-off. Industrial manufacturing is yet another key area that should be promoted and incentivized by governments of the zone and the newly established South East Development Initiative (SEDEC). What Prof. Barth Nnaji has done with power generation in Aba is exciting and a breakthrough for Ndigbo, but it came at a great personal cost to him. At some point, he was basically abandoned, but for that resilient spirit of Onyigbo it would have been a different case.
The point should be made that with our relatively smaller landmass in comparison to other geographic zones of Nigeria, particularly zones in the north, the south east cannot thrive on investments in businesses like large mechanized farming. We may have to learn from countries like Israel by prioritizing small technology start-ups and cottage industries. This can be done through workshops or organized group business trips to countries like Taiwan, China, South Korea, Singapore, Israel, etc. where such cottage industry and hi-tech start-ups already thrive. You probably can’t imagine the tons of money some Onitsha traders are sitting on with little knowledge of where or how to invest them other than importing merchandize and building houses. Knowledge, they say is wealth and the governments can help in this regard.

Call IX – Create Enabling Environment for the Private Sector to Thrive
The primary role of the state is to help create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship to thrive. Such business-friendly initiatives include the establishment of industrial hubs, tax breaks and other macroeconomic policies to spur investments both local and foreign, among others. This requires detailed and well-articulated industrial policies by governments of the south east, especially, after they may have made up their minds what sectors they want to prioritize.
For this to succeed, a caveat must be placed that those who are genuinely interested must not be subjected into the ugly trend of ‘build in 10 for me’ syndrome, which is one of the major reasons some serious investors had walked away after initial expression of interest to invest in the zone. If the Governor is not asking, the Commissioner is and then middle men and women made up of relatives of Governors and their wives. It could be very frustrating, if you have ever been placed on the side of these investors.

Call X – Enhance Opportunities in the Creative Industry
The Creative Industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy of which south east youths are key players in. The south east (both the governments and the private sector) must find ways to tap into the sector by, among other things, developing major, state of the art creative hubs in the zone, which can substantially boost the zone’s economy. It is an emergent industry with immense growth potentials. Nollywood which is just two 2 decades old has become the second biggest film industry in the world after Bollywood (India’s film industry); just as Nigerian artistes have taken the global music industry by storm.

Call XI – Pay Attention to Renewable Energy Sector
To mitigate the impact of Climate Change, the future, sustainable economy of the south east should begin to gravitate towards Renewable energy. These include Solar and Wind Energy, Sugarcane Fuel (Ethanol), Oil Palm Biodiesel. While the South East may not have competitive advantage relative to other zones in the country in the capture and production of these renewables, it can tap into their value chains through the start-up initiatives by manufacturing chips and other devices for their use. The point here is that this is where the shift is headed and it will benefit us to prepare our people to begin a transition to this sector.

Call XII – Embrace, Promote and Invest in Knowledge Economy
Knowledge economy simply refers to a system of consumption and production that is based on intellectual capital; in particular, the ability to capitalize on scientific discoveries, applied and innovative research. While this is more pronounced in highly advanced countries, the south east can begin the drive towards becoming a knowledge economic hub, starting with research and innovation around our specific areas of needs and challenges. This is the stuff of visionary leadership given the talents in and outside our universities, who just need research support to show what they are capable of. One such exceptional talent is Prof. Emenike Ejiogu and his team at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who have, among other cutting edge research, developed a gasification plant that produces synthetic gas from organic solid waste materials (yes, waste material as in rubbish meant for the dustbin) for use in electric power generation and other applications, generating 500KVA of electricity. His research was originally supported by foreign grants, but recently, he got a major award from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Innovation drives the world and knowledge economy is the economy of the future which the South East can benefit enormously from way into the next century. There are so many Prof. Ejiogus across universities in the south east. They just need to be supported.

Call XIII – Reducing Corruption in Government
As for corruption, all I will say, ‘bu na anara asi onye ma ife puta nanwu’. If we don’t scourge corruption, corruption will scourge us! Period. It is only a foolish man that tells a man with a matched that he will not say anything until he no longer sees his head.
Call XIV – Deliberate Heart for Love and Forgiveness
It is true that Ndigbo have gone through a lot in Nigeria. It is also true that Ndigbo have enjoyed a lot of opportunities and benefits from Nigeria. We must therefore rise above our hurts, our pains and our ashes, to embrace a new dawn, wrapped in love and forgiveness. Hurt never heals hurt! I have an uncanny belief that we need a change of attitude about Nigeria, for Nigeria to embrace our position in Nigeria. Yes, we can complain that everybody hates Ndigbo; whether it is true or false is immaterial for me. Why can’t it be said that Ndigbo are so loving and so forgiving. Some may say that it could be misconstrued for weakness. We must draw a line between meekness and weakness. In any event, Christ the Saviour that is dominantly worshipped in the zone overcame the world in His time, and till now, with the principle and fruit of love. We must rethink our relationships with our immediate neighbours in the South South, South West, North Central and spread to the other parts of the nation. If we love and see Nigeria as our vineyard, God will give us Nigeria. What we love, we attract!
And talking about love, isn’t it remarkable that only last night, Africa lost one of its brightest amazons, the advocate of ‘one love’, our own lady of songs, Lady Onyeka Onwenu! May the Lord comfort her family and the entire continent. Amen.

Call XV – A Rethink About Nigeria
Igbos are one of the biggest beneficiaries of the federal republic of Nigeria. In the beginning it was so, along the line something went wrong. Mistakes were made. Nigeria is not the worst country on earth, rather, Nigeria is one of the best countries on earth from my perspective, for a few reasons – first, we have the best material and natural resources on earth; second, we are not prone to natural disasters; three we are one of the most colourful, in terms of multi-culture and multi-diversity; fourth, we have the fertile soil and land mass to feed ourselves and feed Africa at least twice; fifth, we have one of the best collection of human capacity and body of knowledge worldwide; seventh, God is interested in Nigeria; and many more.
The question then, if Nigeria is this great, what is the matter? From my experience and studies over the past three decades, there are three major issues that have held Nigeria down, and will not abate unless they are firmly addressed by those who understand the issues and have the wherewithal and dynamism to firmly – first is Design Issue; second is Corruption Issue; and third is Leadership Issue. Everything other thing rises and falls on these 3 issues. Time will not allow us to expatiate on these issues.
We need to rethink our attitude about Nigeria! Who you bless will bless you and who you condemn shall condemn you.

19. Funding the Blueprint
    I am very conscious that the essence of these blueprint will not be realized if there are no clear indications on how and where to source the funds required to power the programmes and activities proposed in this blueprint. This is why it becomes necessary to pinpoint some of the ways the initiatives in the blueprint can be funded. The following are recommended:
    i. Establishment of South East Development Trust Fund.
    ii. Establishment of South East Infrastructure Fund.
    These first 2 items will be raised and run as specialised funds, professionally set up with enterprise mindset to operate as business entities.
    iii. Effective management of funds allocation from the federal government to the newly established Eastern Nigeria Development Commission.
    iv. Contributions from the 5 South East states.
    v. Support from development partners.
    vi. Etc.
20. Conclusion
    Distinguished guests, I will like to conclude on the point of my Clarion Call XII, which encourages us to imbibe a deliberate heart for love and forgiveness. I am reemphasising this because my experience in public service in the last 35 years shows that it is the man of love, with a profound heart of forgiveness, that lasts longer in the race and ultimately, carries the day in the long run. We must not dwell on the past, nor yield our hearts to our hurts, to infinity. The Word of God says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are …; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16 KJV. New Century Version of the same scripture says, “Surely you know that when you give yourselves like slaves to obey someone (something), then you are really slaves of that person (something). The person (thing) you obey is your master… Romans 6:16 NCV.
    I am saying that we should continue to turn our cheeks? God forbid! But there is time for everything. “Onye malu asu osuo nikwe, onye amara asu osuo nana! Now is the time to sow and wear a new garment, made of trouser of forgiveness, shirt of more patience, shoes of faith, jacket of love, belt of kindness, and a cap of respect. I assure us that it shall not be long before we take our rightful position!
    May I reiterate with certainty that while the current situation may seem challenging, it is not insurmountable. With the right mindset, policies, partnerships, respect, love, and collective effort, the South East can reclaim its position as a leading economic zone in Nigeria. The key lies in recognising our challenges, harnessing our strengths, and creating an enabling environment that attracts and retains investments. By building a strong foundation of faith, strategic support, exemplary leadership, and effective storytelling, we can transform our region into a beacon of progress and prosperity, leading to sustainable development, the essence of our gathering here today.
    Ndigbo, k’anyi bulu n’obi, na ‘onye mmanya n’egbu anara aza akwa akwulu’.
    ‘Ekenem unu. Dalu nu’!
21. References