When the slogan of Anambra State was changed from “Home For All” to “Light of the Nation”, it was not just another gimmick by the policy makers and administrators of the state at the time at a mere rebranding of the state. No, It was a strategic move to redefine the state and prepare it for a future that leads the way among the comity of states in Nigeria. It was a move towards the reconscientization and reorientation of her people to choose a new path of value systems that will define her journey into the future. Given the prevailing circumstances at the time when the state was a haven for all sorts of criminal activities, the perfect example of a pariah state and a vehicle that swallows the dreams of her people, the sentiments was that the slogan “Home for All” no longer reflects the future the state wanted to step into. However, while it was understandable to the rational mind that the challenges the state was facing at the time was not as a consequence of its name or moniker, it was widely accepted that “Light of the Nation” better captures the picture of the next generation that the state would like to be modeled into.
As the state turns 32 today and the drums are rolled out in celebration of the victories we secured during our low moments, the innovations we registered to stand taller than our contemporaries, the sheer resilience of our people, the exemplary excellence culture of our role models, and the unwavering determination of our leaders, it is even more critical that we sit, reflect, reassess our journey, plan and decide that we must come together to build the future that we and our children will be proud of. An Anambra that has the social structures that motivate her citizens (indigenes and residents alike) to excel and nothing short of it. A state that protects, strengthens, and empowers her weak; encourages, supports and enables her strong and fulfills the dreams of her offsprings. A state who we can collectively say- “This her light must shine!”
The journey of the state since creation on August 27, 1991 has been one filled with ups and and downs, trials and errors, victories and defeats but that was also filled with the unbending determination to refine her destiny, subdue and conquer obstacles and challenges and build hope that energizes discipline, hardwork, innovation, continuous improvement, creativity, excellence and success. Called the “Spirit of Anambra” by many, this excellence complex is painted on the streets of the enterprising commercial city of Onitsha, the manufacturing hub of Nnewi, the bureaucracy and emerging digital tribe of Awka, the budding economic belt of Ekwulobia, the agricultural capital of Omambala, and the stellar excellence of the Anambra diaspora.
Successive administrations in the state have also tried their best to provide the state with the leadership it needed to properly channel these qualities into a commonwealth of excellence. These plans and policies met their own challenges and successes. Yet, they are all contributory to what the state has become today. Through its fair share of military and democratic governments including thats of Drs Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chinweoke Mbadinuju, and Chris Ngige, Dame Virgy Etiaba, Mr Peter Obi, Chief Willie Obiano and the incumbent Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the state has continued to soldier on to that future.
Nevertheless, it is the vision of the present administration in the state that remains the only available vehicle at the moment for the state to reach her destination. Governor Soludo aptly understands where Anambra needs to be when he said that we must “collectively build a new social and economic order that guarantees and defends economic freedom and reward of private enterprise to secure our future such that any child born in Anambra will have little incentive to rush elsewhere in search of opportunities and anyone persecuted anywhere in the world can return to a happy and prosperous homeland – liveable, prosperous homeland, not a departure lounge but a destination, a smart mega city.” An Anambra that is driven by the philosophy,”One Anambra, One People, One Agenda”. This means that the best for the state will remain a priority at all times despite our political, religious, or ideological differences. That the actions each and every one of us will take must be tested by their impact on our collective future and not by how they advance personal interests.
Anambra, this your light must shine!
ABS EDITORIAL/MD/DNCA/DAVID/IJE:
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