The 6th World Igbo Summit has held at the Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, South east Nigeria with the theme: “Enduring Future for Ndigbo; Expectations and Challenges”.
At the opening session on Friday, Nigeria’s Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said whatever interest Ndigbo have in Nigeria, be it now or in the future, is realizable and achievable, provided there is unity in the quest and the matter is properly discussed.
Dr. Onu said that Ndigbo are known for hardwork, ingenuity, enterprise, competitiveness and drive. “They are also known for creativity, inventiveness, innovation and the search for excellence”.
Skill acquisition
The Minister called on Ndigbo to acquire the necessary skills to embrace science and technology.
“Ndigbo business men and women should utilize technology in their business, by using information technology to facilitate online transactions. By effectively deploying their business acumen, they can successfully convert their business of today to a technology company of tomorrow”, he said.
Inter-regional relationship
The Minister called on Ndigbo to do a hand shake across the Niger.“This hand shake will be in three places: in the South, with our immediate neighbours; with the West, with our western brothers, and in the North with our northern brothers. When God created us, he gave us language, we must speak to one another, and that is why this summit is very important” he added.
Earlier in an address, a former Senate President and erstwhile Secretary to the Government of the federation, Senator Pius Anyim noted that producing a President of Nigeria of South East extraction demands a lot of work from every segment of the Igbo nation.
“I therefore use this platform to call on all and sundry to rise to the occasion. The task is achievable if approached collectively and adequately”, he said.
Senator Anyim said that in strengthening the capacity of the Igbos of the South East geopolitical zone to negotiate and ultimately win the Presidency, there was an urgent need for civic and voter education to increase voter turnout.
“The South East is currently the zone with the least voter turnout, and this should change. Institutions like the World Igbo Summit Group should actively promote voter education and civic engagement. More so, every Igbo Organization and Association should rise and promote voter education and civic engagement. I call on each and every one of us to stand to be counted”, Anyim added.
Also in an address, the Director General of the World Igbo Summit Group, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna said that the aftermath of the Covid-19 and the #EndSARS campaign has affected the political, economic and social dynamics of Nigeria and may impact heavily on the direction and outcome of the 2023 general elections.
“As Ndigbo, we cannot afford to be averse to this inevitable reality. Indeed, considering our current and determined quest for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, we should use this opportunity to show strong leadership in reshaping and resetting the nation and in removing all obstacles and unjust structures that enthrone injustice, inequality, lopsidedness and maladministration in Nigeria” Okwenna said.
Other notable dignitaries who attended the Igbo Summit include Maj. General Ike Nwachukwu rtd, Commodore Ebitu Ukaiwe rtd, President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo who was on teleconference amongst others.
Nneka Ukachukwu
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