Developing Anambra State Economy With SA Business Model

The recent visit by some group of Anambra State indigenes living in South Africa, back home has remained remarkable judging from a myriad of plans by the Anambra State people in Diaspora.

The Anambrarians had come home to see how they can bring back investments back and to also replicate some of the economic breakthroughs which are noticeable in South Africa where they all resides.

Speaking during the visit in Awka, Anambra State capital, Ambassador Extraordinary and plenipotentiary, Africa Diasporal Forum (ADF) Mr. Jason Osuafor made it known that their visit to Anambra state was put together by the Anambra State Association South Africa (ASA-SA) to meet the government and a number of stakeholders in the state to inform them about their services and find out what role they can play to move the state forward.

Osuafor, a property developer who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Richland integrated Resources pointed out that Anambra State alone as a state has contributed tremendously to the growth of South Africa economy being that most of them have lived there for over decades doing meaningful jobs and trade.

Rating South Africa as an economic giant in Africa, Osuafor said the country has been the most developed economy in continent and has sent high quality investment into Nigeria since 1999. He therefore, felt there is more to do so as to benefit Anambra state.

“According to Osuafor, investments first hit South Africa because they have established financial institutions and structure that receive such investment, a model that is desirable in the state”.

With over three decades in SA, we are beginning to see that that we are now like other nationalities such as Indian, China, Portugal that have come to settle. We also felt we must create our own home organisation that recognize our origin that serve as a platform for us to engage ourselves and build a strong linkage with our home front”. .

Speaking during the summit in Anambra State organised by the Anambra State ASA-SA, Osuafor said “We are going to bring Anambra business and core South Africa businesses targeting sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, ICT to sit in one house and see what synergy they can build out of each other.

Looking at the situation of our future economy, especially now oil price is low; agriculture is the next target while we hope to utilize mechanised agriculture to enhance every aspect of the sector to bring in greater prosperity for our people in Anamnbra state.

Meanwhile, ADF was supported by Anambra State Association South Africa (ASA-SA) which also organized a come back home forum to their state with a plan for a 10-day road show.

At the end of the show which held recently, the association was able to unveil the Anambra brand in South Africa, showcase the performance of Governor Willy Obiano and the need for Anambrarians to stop migrating to overseas unequipped.

One thing the ASA-SA seem to have achieved in the recent roadshow organized in the state, has to do with enlightenment of the youths on the need to travel abroad reasonably.

Over the years, most youths from Anambra and even other parts of the country tend to travel abroad wrongly thinking that it is much easier to make it over there, but with the recent roadshow, many have been informed that it is not all that glitters are gold.

The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willy Obiano reechoed this in his speech during the 10 day roadshow in the state.

Obiano who met with a delegation from the ASA-SA at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, confirmed that he was going to partner with ASA-SA, adding the state will help discourage Anambra people from traveling abroad unequipped, believing that the pasture is greener there.

Governor Obiano said what is important for his administration is to make the state viable for its inhabitants to ensure that Ndi Anambra have less need to seek opportunities elsewhere, especially in view of the increasing hostilities meted out to Ndigbo everywhere.

Condemning the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Governor Obiano urged the Anambra community in that country to think home, assuring them that with the Anambra Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) in place, their investments will be fully protected.

He further called on Anambra people living in South Africa to shun drug trafficking and cultism, saying his government will support the association in its efforts to provide empowerment for Anambra Youths.

“We are to ensure that we create a conducive environment, job and security. We are concentrating these four major sectors including agriculture, trade and commerce, oil and gas and industrialization. We welcome investment from South Africa people despite the fact that Nigeria helped South Africans during apartheid. Unfortunately, they are paying Nigeria with the opposite which comes from envy”, Obiano said.

He advised successful Anambrarians to better come home and invest in Anambra, advising them not to get involved in drug dealings as Nigeria has zero tolerance for drug.

“ANSIPPA is a one shop investment which one will like to do business with. We are interested in business such as commerce and industries. We also have philanthropists who are ready to ready to invest in sporting activities. However, it is nice ASA-SA awards scholarship and promises to help them do it better. I will be looking forward to more businesses with the association.

In his response, President-General of ASA-SA, Chief Onyekachukwu Onyeka who is lso Chief Executive Officer of Nkosiwe Travels and Tours said that due to the attacks on foreigners in South Africa, they want to partner the state government to enlighten Ndi Anambra travelling to the country on how to be able to integrate so as to minimize the population of people coming to South Africa for the wrong reasons.

Chief Onyeka applauded the efforts of the governor, saying that Anambra State indigenes are excelling in South Africa despite xenophobic attacks which came as a result of illiteracy among the blacks.

According to Onyeka, Anambra State has recorded over 10 medical doctors in South Africa. He however appealed to the governor to give attention to security challenges, just as noted that God has used the governor as a blessing to Anambra State.

Rating Governor Obiano, Onyeka said “rating the governor is an easy one , he inherited a good administration from the previous administration and he has continued on that track and he has not done badly from our assessment and we urge Anambra people to support him on the 8-year quest in the office”.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mrs Stella Onuorah noted that the State is in dire need of investments from its diaspora community, revealing that the meeting is in line with the efforts of the present administration through her Ministry, to mobilize Anambra people to support the ongoing transformation in their State.

“Anambra is need of diasporal investment and it is better they do it at home to avoid unnecessary threat”, Onuorah said.

Earlier, Mr. Jason Osuafor one of the Board of Trustees said the meeting was interesting but that funding has become a problem. “We are looking forward to partnering with whatever capacity you are ready. There are lots of capacity in Anambra. The relationship will yield a success prosperity for all that are here”.

On the spot, Mr Jason Osuafor, who is also the inaugural president, Nigerian Union South Africa(NUSA), applauded the efforts of the Governor on behalf of the Association for the way he has, so far, steered the affairs of the state, adding that the association wants to partner with his administration and other key stakeholders, to achieve a lot in the areas of human capital, business development, among others.