Heard About Ebonyi Export Promotion Club? *An Intrigue!

Ebonyi state government on Tuesday inaugurated her first ever export club to promote made-in-Ebonyi goods to the global market.

His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State represented by the Secretary to the State Government and Coordinating Commissioner, Dr. Ugbala Kenneth Igwe, said that the launching of the body formed part of the strategic partnership for economic diversification for the future of the state and the next generation.

“The joy of this administration is in the number of Ebonyians we are able to lift out of poverty and that is the reason we are gathered here today. We are now thinking outside the box, beyond politics for the future of our children and the next generation. We built good quality roads, bridges, flyovers with aesthetic designs, and equally good security architecture and now, we are on cause for public service expansion. The journey of a thousand mile begins with a step and we shall not rest until we get there”, he expounded.

The Governor maintained that his administration had robust blueprint anchored on creative proposals for the building of a new city, adding, “where we can proudly call our own, a city of David per se.”

He contended that his dream was to build a prosperous megacity with competitive dreams and that was why government was in a hurry to recover from backwardness and marginalization that bedeviled the state since inception.

Dr. Ugbala emphasized that the Ebonyi International Airport, when completed, would serve as a vehicle for movement of goods and services to the labour market without difficulties and assured Ebonyians that the airport project would be ready by 2021.

Secretary to the State Government advocated for banks and other developmental partners to help the club realize its dream for the development of the state and called on members of Export Club to access soft loans from banks to help their business grow, stressing that no successful businessman operated without loan or credit facilities from banks.

”As a route for diversification, our government is doing a lot to make Ebonyi State a commercial hub of agriculture, industrialization and solid mineral development within the South East”, he disclosed.

Responding, Commissioner for Business Development, Dr. Stephen Odo, said that their core objective was to support Governor’s dream of having zero oil economy to expand productivity and create more employment opportunities for the jobless youths.

Dr. Odo added that the club would major on export of non-oil goods, exploring areas of comparative advantage such as agric produce and solid mineral subsectors.

Present during the event included Mr. Amon Jackson, South East Regional Manager, Nigeria Export Promotion Council; Mrs. Emilia Ominyi, Representative of the Regional Manager, Bank of Industry; Mr. Dan Ogbogu, Head of Development Finance CBN, Ebonyi State; Mr. Sunday Ituma, Programme Manager, IFAD; and Mrs. Chinagorom Okereke, President Ebonyi State Export Promotion Club.

Other principal officers of government present were Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Moses Ogodo Ali Nome; Secretary Economic Team Ebonyi State, Prince Sunday Ugwuocha; Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Dr. Steve Nweze, among others.

The event witnessed inauguration of Ebonyi Export Club executives, unveiling of award to His Excellency the Governor of Ebonyi state, who was honoured as “The grand Patron & Ogbazuagu of Ebonyi Export Club.“ Other events that took place during the occasion are inspection of Made in Ebonyi goods, such as cassava, rice, yam, mushroom, charcoal, rice husks, zinc, lead, and copper ores, among others.