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| Chudi Nwabueze |
Nwabueze who hails from Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government of the State said there was compelling need for Ndigbo to engage in think home philosophy at this point in time in our national life.
He said in addition to clamouring for the restructuring of the country or agitating for Biafra restoration, the people of the South East should have strong economic base and the only way to achieve that was for successful sons and daughters of this zone to have economic presence in their region..
Nwabueze who is also into hospitality business told journalists in Lagos that Ndigbo should as a matter of urgency embrace "think home philosophy and enforce it with all their capabilities".
To this end, he said, to achieve that, Ndigbo must define the concept of think home philosophy so as to make it more acceptable to Ndigbo across Nigeria and in diaspora .
Stressing that this was the time to do that, he said "first of all, we have to define the concept of think home philosophy so that when we are coming home we will know what we are actually coming to do and as well as the possibilities of getting it done".
According to him "think home philosophy is not just about someone coming from Lagos or Abuja or United States or Canada, China or Europe to build a hotel or petrol station or market plaza or housing estate. These are part of it but major part of it is to design and adopt a well-structured and well programmed projects in critical areas of life such as agriculture, health, education and transportation as the case maybe. That will enhance the capacity of the people to live a more adventurous, more profitable, safe and secured life in their fatherland".
He continued, "Yes, there have to be structures and programmes and enabling environment on ground for people to come home and invest substantially. Take for instance, I want to invest on agriculture in Ogidi or elsewhere in Ogbaru or Nzam or Anam in Anambra North what structure and programme do I follow? What are the incentives available for farmers from government ? What is the cost of labour, the access road, the degree of communication, the market value and of course the security measures? These are the things we have to look into to be able to effectively promote think home philosophy"
The Ogidi born entrepreneur listed adequate power supply, rail line, good road networks that connect the rural dwellers to the city and efficient communication network as the major facilities that should be on the ground for people to develop interest in investing at home.
He added that State capitals and cities in Igbo land are due for adequate power supply and connection with rail lines to enhance the environment for mega businesses, industrialization and manufacturing to thrive with safer and easier means of transportation.
He noted that Nnewi iis doing very well in manufacturing and Ndigbo should take it up from there.
"Nnewi is doing well in manufacturing, Aba too is not doing badly in textile and foot wears Companies like Ibeto, INNOSON, Chikason, Koteck, Tummy Tummy, Cutis, Louis Carter and others have done well in area of industrialization, stressing "we have to take it up from there, we have to find out how they did it, borrow from their expertise. These captains of industries are big assets to Ndigbo and we have to always commend and support them"
He added, “commercial cities like Onitsha, Nnewi and Aba and capital cities like Enugu Owerri, Awka, Umuahia and Abakiliki need adequate power and rail lines for business to thrive to encourage think home philosophy .
But in the absence or lack rail lines and connection with effective rail transport system, there should be adequate road network.
He also advocated the improvement of the capacity of rural dwellers as well provide them with road, communication network to bridge the network gap with the city.
"What is the network capacity of a rural farmer in Ogbaru, Nzam or Anam? What information does he have on farming? How easy it is for him to connect Onitsha? These are issues we have to address and which I believe will encourage think home philosophy" said Nwabueze.
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