As Anambra is today, one would observe that under the watch of Governor Willie Obiano, the State has evolved into a model state in Nigeria. And there is no magic to it. Rather, Obiano’s administration started with clearly defined Vision and Mission Statements which serve as a roadmap to its overall development drive.
When Governor Obiano started, he declared that his Vision was to make Anambra the first Choice Investment Destination and a hub for industrialization and commercial activities. His administration also declared that its Mission was to make Anambra State a socially stable, business-friendly environment that would attract both indigenes and foreigners to seek wealth-creating opportunities.
To ensure the realization of these two statements, Obiano crafted a Blueprint known as the Four Pillars of Development, which revolves around Agriculture, Industrialization, Trade and Commerce and Oil & Gas. The Vision and Mission Statements come together in a perfect synergy with the Four Pillars of Development to make up his dream for Anambra State.
The regime also has what it calls 14 Enablers. They are those basic things that must be in place for the Pillars to function. The Key Enablers include Security, Education, Health, Roads and Social Infrastructure, the Environment, Finance, Transportation, Public Utilities.
No doubt, after over four years on the saddle, Nigerians are happy with the decision Anambra has taken on matters pertaining to security. It must be noted that for most of the developing world, security is the master-key to sustainable development. Thus, when he assumed office on March 17, 2014, Obiano knew that no matter how bright his ideas were, if he failed to tackle insecurity in the State, he would be dead on arrival as an administration. So, he designed a security architecture that helped stamp out crime of all shades from Anambra State.
And today, because of his decision to make security the number one priority of Anambra State, Governor Obiano donated a gunboat to the Naval Outpost in Onitsha to secure the waterways and 25 smart cars to the police to patrol the streets and alleyways, and because he occasionally launches surveillance helicopters into Anambra skies to detect threats beyond the range of human eyes, our dear state is a better place.
Admittedly, the results are there for all to see in all key areas of development. Commercial and socio-cultural activities have been on a steady rise in Anambra State. The impact is so much that in 2016/2017 when Nigeria’s economy went into deficit, the sub-national economy of Anambra State grew by one per cent because of the measures Obiano initiated to fight recession.
He established the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) to anchor the investment drive. The Agency swiftly became a One-Stop investment powerhouse, offering first class solutions to all investment inquiries. It signed forty-two MoUs across various sectors in the state valued at about five point four billion dollars out of which one point six billion dollars worth of investments had come from the indigenes of the state.
Anambra has some interesting case studies, especially in the agricultural sector where some indigenous entrepreneurs like Coscharis Farms has invested over two hundred million dollars in a large mechanized rice farm in Anaku. There is also JOSAN Agro Limited, which has invested one hundred and eighty million dollars in an Integrated Farm in Ufuma and Umumbo and finally, Lynden Farms Limited which invested $180m in a modern integrated poultry farm in Igbariam. Similarly, Anambra’s rice production output currently stands at 345,000 metric tons as against the 80,000 metric tons met on ground.
Akpokuedike has equally paid serious attention to roads and infrastructure. He built three iconic flyovers which have become aesthetic landmarks in Awka and Amawbia as well as the longest bridge in the South East of Nigeria which leads to the oilfields. Lately, he has focused a lot of attention on giving a facelift to our cities. He rolled out the Light-up Anambra Campaign which has turned our cities, towns and communities into dazzling beauties at night. Governor Obiano’s quest to enhance the beauty of the cities recently witnessed the remodeling of the DMGS Roundabout in Onitsha. He turned it into a magnificent monument with five long elephant tusks rising from the base to form a canopy of unity at the top over a refurbished sculpture of the Great Zik. The five tusks symbolically represent the 5 states of the South East held together in unity by a bead at the top.
Indeed, Anambra is on the rise! Governor Obiano has put the state in shape as a beautiful bride for investment and we are now ready to welcome the world. Therefore, our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora should come home and invest and change the story of our people. Let us be guided and encouraged by the inspiring stories of the contributions of the Jewish Diaspora to the greatness of the modern state of Israel today. Ndi Anambra in the Diaspora can do just the same. Anambra is a better place today than it used to be!

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