As Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s Administration clocks two years a frontline industrialist, Chief C. U. Mbaji, Chairman/C.E.O. Lake Petroleum Ltd, assesses his performance in a chat with Jude Atupulazi.
EXCERPTS:
On Mr Governor’s Report Card after two years
Right from the outset, he shunned the title, His Excellency, and rather chose Mr. Governor. This is a great mark of humility. He immediately went to work on 17th March 2022, enunciating his policies and programmes and their mode of implementation/execution. At the same time, he set out a new machinery of employing people to positions of authority through on-line appointment where you apply, state what you can do and why you feel you’ll do it best.
One year of his governance passed and people gave him kudos. Today, his administration has clocked two solid years with solid achievements. I state here that within two years ndi Anambra have witnessed unprecedented development in virtually all sectors of the state economy in education, in Agriculture, road, health and environment, industrialization and commerce, and even in job creation and housing, as well as in entertainment.
Anambra Football Club is today on course. And it’s pertinent to note that this administration takes full cognizance of the importance of rural dwellers. Hence, we see all aspects of good governance being replicated in all the nooks and crannies of the state without recourse to religious or political affiliations.
On what is responsible for the success story
One basic factor that contributed to the plethora of achievements recorded by the Soludo Leadership in these two years has been its proper mode of appointments based on merit. This is crucial because the leader appoints and the appointees do the job. The commissioners, the advisers, etc., are working in harmony to achieve one common goal of enthroning good governance by bringing to the people the much desired democracy dividends.
Soludo said the talent databank is a tool for recruiting a talented team and volunteers who will serve Ndi Anambra in the course of his administration. He stated further that equal opportunity would be given to every indigene and people born and raised in Anambra who may not be called indigenes but who have the requisite competencies and relevant, valuable contributions to good governance in the state.
On the recruitment of teachers
The experience in the past of godfathers having a stake in teachers’ recruitment and deployment encouraged sloppiness in the system. Not only were teachers’ recruited this time based on merit, the males were posted to their local government areas and the women to their husband’s local government areas.
The wisdom behind this is to spur teachers to integrate with their local communities to impart knowledge and the development of the local government area they call home.
Some teachers had wanted to effect changes to their posting but this was turned down, as this was no longer business as usual. Gov. Soludo’s Administration expects of them, in the drive to provide quality and value based education for Anambra children, starting from their LGA, to help the state in realizing her developmental goals.
Soludo maintained that recruitment under his watch must be free, transparent and fair which he defined as Anambra’s standard, maintaining that global best practices will continue to be the beacon of his administration.
On the overview of Soludo’s Administration in terms of development and People’s Welfare
We have seen an administration with a vision of a greater Anambra State; one that’s touching core aspects of development. Today, our state is rated with the lowest unemployment rate since last year and the government is opening up a vista of economic activities and enhancing the tourism treasure and there is a unanimous affirmation that it is doing well.
This leadership is gradually but consistently repositioning the state and making it the envy of other states and building a new economic order. Anambra is endowed with abundant human and material resources, versatile-intellectual power and committed lieutenants at the seat of governance. From all indications our tomorrow will glitter brighter.
You know, while the Soludo Leadership is working assiduously in this direction, the Federal Government has stepped in to upgrade four vocational skills centre in Anambra. It has already upgraded skills training centres in some rural communities in Alor, Ifite-Dunu, Akweze and Adazi for digitalized skill centres as the pinnacle of collective efforts in advancing apprenticeship development in the state.
These centres are proof of the Gederal Government’s vision of inclusive growth and empowerment. This skill acquisition will be accessible to all, irrespective of gender, social background and physical ability and location. From technical skills to soft skills, these centres will provide a holistic learning experience that will equip individuals with the versatility and flexibility required to succeed in the work place. They serve as a stimulus of entrepreneurship and job creation.
The future of green and livable society belongs to the children. Soludo government is transforming unemployment through digital innovation. You know the one youth two skill initiative has advanced to one youth 25-30 skills within these two years and much has been achieved. In fact over 2000 have been gainfully employed.
With Soludo’s two years in office, we have seen the government busy driving the clean and green initiative, sustaining building of clean and green revolution and as Ndi Anambra, We have seen government efforts to give the state quality and affordable health care services to all.
It has also dropped for emergency the medical service number, 112, to call in time of emergency. You should again note that Onitsha General Hospital has been upgraded to Federal Medical Center and it’s all to reciprocate Soludo’s efforts in the health sector. This government is a no nonsense one. It has closed down three hospitals for quackery to save lives.
It’s been busy destroying illegal structures, shanties, to reduce crime, curb erosions, working tirelessly to advance health care management. Our governor has set a pace in governance; energizing development in all sectors of the economy and at the same time, ensuring even development without recourse to who you are, where you belong in politics or your religious affiliation. Within these two years we have seen quality service delivery in all sectors.
On Agric sector Soludo has particularly impressed all
One remarkable sector that’s witnessed great innovations is the Agric sector. The governor has within this period demonstrated his determination to re-enact the days of Agricultural Revolution Prosperity under former Premier of then Eastern Region, Dr. M. I. Okpara. The agricultural transformation that time made this region self-sufficient in food production.
The institutional milestones recorded and solid infrastructure built by the Okpara Regime were essentially agric, producing major palm oil. Now, palm oil and coconut seedlings are being procured by the state government and distributed free of charge to carefully selected people and groups that can nurture them to fruiting stage.
The gains are enormous for starters. Palm oil ranks among the most consumed oil. This underscores the need for the state government’s oil and coconut palms agenda of this 2024 because well over 60% of oil packaged products found in supermarkets include palm oil as the basic raw material. At the latest count, there are over 30 high-value by-products that could be captured through the refining oil palm oil.
On the other hand, the coconut oil market is today one of the fastest growing agric-sector product with a compound annual growth rate of 7%: Experts attribute the rapid growth of this sector to the increased awareness of consumers regarding the various health benefits of coconut oil. At the very least, 200, 000 households are expected to benefit from Anambra State Government this year. This is a right vision by a good government.
Impact in other areas
The Soludo Administration has so far exhibited unequalled commitment to achieving its set goals, particularly the primary one of transforming the state to a livable and prosperous mega smart city. Here in the state, we have witnessed a unique style of leadership. This very government has brought scholarship to be in governance with innovation in various sectors.
We also see the efforts of the administration on road infrastructure; many roads, already flagged-off for construction in every local government area of the state and at the same time, opening the hinterlands to quality roads. All the hitherto inaccessible areas are being connected under the Soludo Administration’s Road Project. It’s ushering in a new phase of development in the state; turning the state to a construction site.
Here, in Anambra, we’ve seen the implementation of a Social Protection Policy intended to manage risks and volatility, protect the citizens from poverty and inequality and help them to access economic opportunities. This government believes in the ability of youth to bring holistic development of the state. It agrees that the youth offer a veritable means to create opportunities for young people to fully harness their potentials, and here, the ‘One Youth now 30 Skills Scheme’ is in progress and has churned out 2000.
This very administration recognizes the importance of human capacity development for effective and efficient service delivery. It also believes in production instead of consumption economy and is working hard, in fact, assiduously to reposition oil palm to its pride of place. After all, Agriculture was the mainstay of Nigeria’s Economy before the advent of oil and gas.
Its fight against unemployment is total and with all hands on deck, soon joblessness will be a thing of the past in our state. Peace and security is crucial for socio/economic growth and the Soludo Leadership is leaving no stone unturned to see that Anambra remains peaceful. Fund is necessary for development and to ensure its availability, the government has restructured the state revenue generation process.
There is one remarkable feature of the present government approach to youth empowerment. Its human capital development is one that’ll be productive at home and exportable abroad. This human capital development is a strong base for the socio-economic advancement of any nation.
To buttress the importance of human capital, Governor Soludo organized and hosted a South-East Conference on human capital development in Awka. Again he announced that 10,000 youths would be trained on digital skills and training has begun. When this training is completed, youth employment will receive a great boost in the state. The priority of this administration is security and law and order. This is so because all sectors are anchored on security and we’ve seen how relentlessly he’s working to restore peace to the state.
To grow the state economy, the Soludo administration is sharing sustainable poverty alleviation strategy which includes coconut and palm oil seedlings. Poor families with 20 of these will be out of poverty within three to four years when these trees begin to grow. In the administration’s road construction programme, most of the roads are Q and A which stands for quality and assurance. In fact, this government is working round the clock to deliver on its mandate of enthroning Anambra as an alpha state, a world class state.
Most of the road projects have been completed and within these two years, hard-to-reach areas are linked to city and urban centres. With his committees, boards and the calibre of members in his team, Governor Soludo is successfully creating the enabling environment to boost investment confidence in Anambra State.
From the aforesaid, I state categorically that Ndi Anambra are better off within these two years as a lot has been done.
