The Chairman of the Ebonyi State Elders Council, Engr. Ben Okah, has thrown his weight behind the state government’s renewed push for industrialization, describing it as both ambitious and achievable if anchored on steady power supply, agro-processing, and proper management of solid minerals.
Speaking with journalists at his Agba Ezekoma residence in Ishielu Local Government Area, Okah said Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s administration has already laid a strong foundation by creating a 57-hectare industrial layout and initiating plans for an independent, steady, and cheaper power system to support investors.
According to him, the absence of affordable power and integrated value chains remain the biggest obstacles to industrial growth in Nigeria.
“The worst thing that can happen to an industrialist is power failure in the middle of production. That is why our governor is working on establishing alternative power sources to give industries steady supply at cheaper rates,” he said.
Okah noted that Ebonyi’s comparative advantage lies in agriculture and minerals, stressing that industrialization must begin with processing rice, cassava, maize, soybeans, and other farm produce available in the state.
“Food is the first instrument of peace. If you improve food processing and packaging, you not only create jobs but also improve nutrition and public health,” he said.
On solid minerals, the elder statesman said Ebonyi is among the richest states in Nigeria, with vast deposits of salt, gold, lithium, and uranium.
He explained that the government has set up an economic team to identify and properly regulate mineral exploitation, warning that the state must avoid revenue leakages and ensure wealth creation through structured mining.
He, however, cautioned against government running industries directly, insisting that the private sector must drive the process.
“Government’s role is to provide land, infrastructure, power, and policies. The rest is for investors. That is the only sustainable path,” he stated.
Okah further called for reforms in the education sector, particularly in vocational and technical training, to equip the state’s workforce for industrial needs.
He added that good governance and accountability were indispensable for sustainable development.
Describing Ebonyi as the most peaceful state in the Southeast, Okah said the conducive environment, combined with tax rebates, power reforms, and raw materials, would make the state a magnet for investors.
“Industrialization is not impossible. With power, value chains, raw material processing, education, and good governance, Ebonyi can become a model for Nigeria,” he concluded.
