The British Government has announced plans to partner with Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide in developing the South-East region of Nigeria. The partnership will be focused on business, investment, agriculture, power, and seaport. The announcement was made by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, during a visit to the leaders of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide at their headquarters in Enugu.
During the visit, Montgomery expressed his love for the entrepreneurial spirit of the Southeast region and pledged to improve the relationship between the UK and the South-East to build the region and boost economic prosperity for its people. He said, “I understand the challenges this region faces and the opportunities which we can build and also share sentiment to sustain the long relationship with this region and the United Kingdom.”
Montgomery also promised to support the development of the South-East region in the areas of education, agriculture, industrial development, infrastructure, power, and seaport. He added that the UK would assist in developing the zone along the areas of education, agriculture, industrial development, power, and seaport as presented by the President-General of Ohaneze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
In response, Iwuanyanwu welcomed the British High Commissioner to Igboland and noted that the challenges of his office were enormous but expressed confidence and assurance to surmount them. He listed education, agriculture, industrial development, infrastructure, roads, railways, seaport, and electricity as major areas he intended to address expeditiously to boost the economy of the South-East. Iwuanyanwu also expressed his hope for strong business relationships between Chambers of Commerce in Igboland and Chambers of Commerce in the United Kingdom.
“Our biggest problem today is insecurity, which has escalated since Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was arrested and detained, and we will continue to appeal to the Federal government to release him,” Iwuanyanwu said. “By the time I achieve my goals, Igboland will be transformed into a modern developed part of Nigeria.”
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, also pledged to work with the South-East zone to boost economic prosperity for its people. “We are working on how to boost trade between Nigeria and UK, increase incentives for investment and opportunities between the two countries,” he said. “The Business Council which the President General, Chief Iwuanyanwu said he will establish as well as agriculture services and industries are areas of interest to us.”
