Anambra at 34: Soludo Awakens a Sleeping Giant
By Law Mefor
Anambra State was created 34 years ago. The governor of the state, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR, in a media chat in Awka, to commemorate the anniversary, noted that "Anambra has always punched above its weight”, which points to a state destined for greatness.
Anambra can be likened to China, which was once seen by the world as a sleeping giant. When China was tagged as a sleeping giant, Napoleon Bonaparte said: “Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world!”
Some critics used to rile Anambra State for not having a befitting Government House since her creation. Today, Anambra State has the best Government House in Nigeria, named “Light House”, thanks to the visionary leadership of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, who built the one-stop for all executive actions.
Soludo deserves all the tributes for awakening the sleeping giant by working to turn the state from a departure lounge to a destination of choice. A pivotal strategic move of repositioning Anambra State undertaken by Soludo was renaming the Anambra Airport to Chinua Achebe International Airport. Many people may not realise that the essence of Africa celebrated across the globe is the Igbo world depicted by Chinua Achebe, in his classic 1958 novel – Things Fall Apart. Thanks to Soludo’s vision, people from all over the world have the choice of flying to Anambra State via Chinua Achebe Int'l Airport.
As the standard-bearer of Anambra State, Soludo stands on the shoulders of giants who gave Nigeria its pride of place under the sun. The founding father of Nigeria’s colonial struggle and the first President and C-in-C, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the acclaimed Zik of Africa, blazed a worthy trail that got enlivened over the years by other Anambra heroes such as Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Dr Alex Ekwueme, the Cardinals Francis Arinze and Peter Ebere Okpaleke, Chinua Achebe, Margaret Ekpo, Prof. Kenneth Onwuka Dike, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Chimamanda Adichie, etc. In 34 years of existence, Anambra showcases Soludo as the inimitable leader who is keeping the flag flying higher and higher. Yes, Anambra is rising under Soludo's intentional and transformational leadership.
With Soludo in the saddle, Anambra State is on a new pedestal in the march towards being the African Dubai-Taiwan-Silicon Valley. The potentials have shot up many gears. The state is now living up to her splendid history and title as “The Light of the Nation”.
Created on August 27, 1991, Anambra State occupies a land area of 41,416 square kilometres and has a population of up to eight million. The state draws its name from the majestic Anambra (Omambala) River, a major tributary of the celebrated River Niger. Anambra State is home to all Nigerians, and the people of Anambra are well-travelled republicans who live in all parts of Nigeria, Africa and the whole wide world, making investments in Anambra State amount to investing in the destiny of Nigeria and Africa.
Soludo’s drive to transform Anambra into one smart mega city state makes the homeland a veritable mecca for all well-meaning people. In this epoch of globalisation, the government has gone the extra mile to make all parts of Anambra State investor-friendly. Clearly delineated industrial layouts and estates have been mapped out to meet all authentic needs of prospective investors in the state's Anambra Mixed-use Industrial City (AMIC).
Soludo insists that Anambra’s greatest gift lies in the human capital and the state's future in tech and innovation. A ready pool of skilled manpower is available in every field of endeavour in Anambra State. The people are globally well-respected for being intelligent, resourceful and hard-working. The entrepreneurial endowment is first-class. The manpower base is supplied by many institutions of higher learning, notably Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka; Federal Polytechnic, Oko; Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe; College of Education (Technical), Umunze; Madonna University, Okija; Tansian University, Umunya; Paul University, Awka; Peter University, Achina-Onneh; Ekwenugo Okeke Polytechnic, Uli; the forthcoming Isuofia Nursing School; etc.
Anambra State is well-located as the gateway to the Southeast of Nigeria from the landmark Niger Bridge. The state is accessible by land, water and air, sharing boundaries with Delta State to the west, Imo and Rivers States to the south, Enugu State to the east, and Benue and Kogi States to the north.
The Solution Fun City is a modern-day Anambra wonder and one major step towards turning Awka into a leisure capital. The Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City (AMIC) project is a signature Free Trade Zone and industrial development initiative. It is incumbent on the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) to key in with Anambra State to establish a comprehensive industrial city to accelerate economic growth and attract profound investment.
Governor Soludo is getting Anambra closer to that dream through the ready master plans for building Onitsha 2.0, Awka 2.0, the Marriott Hotel, Awka Park, the power project, the railway, and other multiform schemes in the transformation agenda of the Soludo Solution Government.
Let’s give the last words to Mr Governor: “Today, we celebrate not just in commemoration but in reflective re-dedication. We mark the 34th anniversary of the creation of our beloved Anambra State: a divine project, Light of the Nation, a bright promise etched into the map of Nigeria on this day in 1991.
“Over these three decades, Anambra has consistently punched above its weight. From the first military administrator, Navy Capt Joseph Abulu, to the last military administrator, Wing Cmdr Emmanuel Ukaegbu, and from the first civilian governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, to my immediate predecessor, Chief Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano, Anambra has continued on a trajectory of remarkable growth.
“Despite being one of the smallest states in Nigeria by landmass, we have produced some of the nation’s brightest minds, successful entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders. From our bustling commercial hubs to our academic institutions, from our innovative industries to our rich cultural heritage, Anambra has remained on the rise.”
Governor Soludo has awakened Anambra, the sleeping giant, and Nigeria and the world are already noticing, as the "Light of the Nation" takes her pride of place.
* Law Mefor, PhD, is Anambra State Commissioner for Information.
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