EJIKE ANYADUBA

Anambra is, perhaps, one of the few states in Nigeria that have chalked up some good mention. Her respect comes not from her size, but her worth. She has limited land space – the next smallest state after Lagos, and currently battles soil erosion in over a thousand sites that further shrinks her size.

Anambra produces people of high intellect, uncommon industry and brilliant accomplishments. The state is blessed with quality human capital and a succession of good leaders. What she loses, running intense and money-guzzling political campaigns, she duly compensates with her capacity to keep aglow the light that illuminates the path that other states follow.

In the last couple of years, the state has made some giant leap in governance that puts her ahead of others better positioned to lead the charge. She has been mentioned as one of the few states in Nigeria that live above the margins of poverty.

The National Bureau of Statistics, in its 2019 report, named Anambra as having the least percentage of poverty head count in Nigeria. Marveling at the speed with which Anambra bridged the gap in her educational development, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce said in his Common Sense series, quote: “Twenty years ago, Anambra and other Southeast states lagged in education and had poor boy child school enrolment, but today Anambra leads the nation in WASSCE results. For the past three years Anambra has had over 60% pass rates in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination”, end of quote.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and its attendant lock-down, the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), which has been brought to a fairly even level with the best anywhere in Nigeria, led the way in online teaching in the country. The initiative was copiously endorsed by the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba.

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, was no less impressed when on a stopover visit in the state, he joined Governor Willie Obiano on inspection of the ongoing construction at the Anambra International Cargo, Airport. He was direct in commending the effort of the government in constructing one of best airports in Nigeria, on completion. He simply called it mind-blowing. Airline owner and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, after a visit of the construction site, quipped that he felt proud to be called an Anambra son.

Anambra is one of the safest states in Nigeria. What it has achieved outside the traditional role of fixing roads and bridges is better experienced in the conviviality, evident in the return of social and business activities in the state. It is not just about an upsurge in the population of people resident in the state, but businesses have all gained greater value. A visit to social events in the state would convince a doubting Thomas that a progressive society is emerging at the double.

It took the achievement on security to unlock the potentials hitherto latent in the state. Every sector of the state economy has leapt to sudden height.

People, particularly investors, who until now, had scoffed at the idea of bringing their investments home, either out of fear of abductors, armed robbers or other wastes of space, have all changed the investment profile of the state. There is also appreciable rise in micro, small and medium businesses in the state with the establishment of the Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) in 2014 by the Obiano administration.

It is not any different in what the state does with her introduction of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA). With a monthly fee of N1, 000 and N12, 000 per year, a resident becomes an enrollee on the scheme.  No doubt, Anambra’s development curve is on the rise and does not betray any sign of downward slant. It is expected to be furthered in the months ahead.

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