From Marcel Duru,Owerri
The Imo State House Of Assembly has passed a motion urging Governor Hope Uzodimma to revive and reposition the Ceramic Industry at Ezinachi in Okigwe local government area of the State. The Chief Sponsor of the Motion and Member Representing Okigwe State Constituency at the Imo State House Of Assembly, Hon Chief Chidiebere Samuel Ogbunikpa said that Ceramic Industry plays an important role in industrialization because of its strategic involvement and applications in many industrial sectors such as automobile, security, defence, building and construction. Hon Ogbunikpa further stated that the Ceramic Industry at Ezinachi Okigwe was established by the Government of His Excellency late Sam Onunaka Mbakwe, with the mandate to produce Ceramic products, offer gainful employment opportunities to citizens of Imo State and beyond.
According to the lawmaker, as soon as the iconic former Governor left office over 42 years ago, the industry had remained moribund. Hon Ogbunikpa further noted that if the Ceramic Industry at Ezinachi Okigwe is revived and repositioned, it will create employment opportunities for the teaming youths of the State, while at the same time revive the ailing economy of Okigwe LGA and its environs, as well as boosting the State Internally Generated Revenue and increase the Human Capital Development and goodwill for both the government and the good people of Imo State. The only voice from Okigwe State Constituency in the Imo State House Of Assembly commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for distinguishing himself in the areas of commerce, trade, industry and rural development in the state, noting that the 3-R Shared Prosperity Leadership has the Capacity to sustain the Industrial Revolution efforts within the state. He therefore called on his Honourable Colleagues to lend their voices to the Motion as the revival and repositioning of the Ezinachi Ceramic Industry is vital to industrialization.
The Motion which was seconded by Hon Chief Johnleoba Iheoha, Member Representing Ikeduru State Constituency, was co-sponsored by the following 9 lawmakers: Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi, Hon James Uba Esile, Hon Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie, Hon Sam Ikechukwu Osuji, Hon Emeka Kingsley Ozurumba, Rt Honourable Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh, Hon Chisom Ojukwu, Hon Obinna Ambrose Egu, Hon Ikenna Martins Ihezuo.
The Motion was supported by the following 8 lawmakers who made useful contributions: Hon Chief James Uba Esile (Onuimo), Hon Engr Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie (Mbaitoli), Hon Sam Ikechukwu Osuji (Isiala Mbano), Rt Honourable Kennedy Chidozie (Ibeh Obowo), Hon Chief Johnleoba Iheoha (Ikeduru), Hon Barrister Chisom Ojukwu(Nkwerre), Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie (Aboh-Mbaise), Hon Engr Bernard Ndubuisi Ozoemelam (Ehime Mbano), In their respective submissions, they commended the mover of the Motion, and said the high level of infrastructural development in the state is the motivation to urge the governor to industrialize the State, so that more youths would be employed, thereby reducing insecurity.
They commended the Governor for currently reviving Imo foremost hospitality industry, Concorde Hotel, established by Dee Sam Mbakwe, thereafter urged him to revive and reposition the Ezinachi Ceramic Industry, which was also established by Dee Sam Onunaka Mbakwe. Furthermore, while still supporting the Motion, Rt Honourable Kennedy Ibeh, Hon Chisom Ojukwu and Hon Princewill Amuchie gave insights on how to revive and reposition the Ezinachi Ceramic Industry and other critical moribund industries in the state. Rt Honourable Kennedy Ibeh, “This Motion commands hydra-headed benefits for the people of Imo State. The 3-R Shared Prosperity Leadership of Governor Uzodimma has done wonderfully well in Infrastructural Revolution. The Governor has also done his best by appointing people into Ministries and Agencies. The mandate of some of these Ministries and Agencies is to fish out investors by promoting the potentials available in the state. For example, some persons have been appointed to manage the Imo State Investment And Promotion Agency (ISIPA). It is the responsibility of ISIPA to fish out investors by promoting and showcasing the potentials available continued industrial revolution through the Private Public Partnership (PPP) Model arrangement. Having provided the enabling environment, nobody should expect the Governor and the State Government to do everything.”
For Hon Chisom Ojukwu, “Reviving all the comatose industries should follow after the Governor has provided the basic infrastructure and setting the motion for 24 hour electricity. These have been done. The Governor cannot do everything. Therefore, the Ministries and Agencies in-charge of promoting the potentials available in the state should market the State to the world because the State is very ripe for industrialization. The Committee on Commerce and Industry should liase with the necessary Ministries and Agencies, pay visit to Ezinachi Ceramic Industry and see ways to activate the PPP Model.” For Hon Princewill Amuchie, to”Allowing the State Government to run Industries has never been profitable. Therefore, the PPP Model should be the solution.” Satisfied with contributions from his Honourable Colleagues, the Speaker, Rt Honourable Chike Olemgbe, put it to vote and it was unanimously adopted.
Thereafter, he Ruled as follows: Be It Resolved By This Honourable House To Urge His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma CON, Governor Of Imo State, To Direct The Ministry Of Trade Investment And Other Relevant State Government Agencies, To Urgently Revive And Reposition Ceramic Industry, Ezinachi, Okigwe LGA, To Fulfill Its Original Mandate And Boost The State’s Internally Generated Revenue Be It Also Resolved By This Honourable House That The Ministry Of Trade And Investment, As Well As Industry And Other Related State Government Agencies Embark On The Spot Assessment Of The Ceramic Industry At Okigwe LGA With The View To Ascertain Its Current Value And Worth, With The View To Fulfilling Its Original Mandate As A Catalyst To Further Socio-Economic Development Of Imo State. The Clerk was directed to communicate the Resolution of the House to His Excellency the Governor.
