For many years, Mr Udom G. Emmanuel was Executive Director, Income Optimisation, Financial Control & Strategic Planning Department at Zenith Bank Group. The thrust of his assignment was to identify potential, design and implement practical blueprints on how to make more money, cut costs to the barest minimum and give the bank strategic steps to take to stay ahead of the chasing pack. The results of his yearly successes are public knowledge and littered copiously across the internet. In achieving this, he interacted with over 500 Branches and business offices of the bank Nationwide. His strides also spread to the UK as his efforts contributed to Zenith Bank becoming the first Nigerian bank in 25 years to be licensed by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the UK. He also coordinated 18 business offices in Ghana, branches is Sierra Leone, Gambia and a representative office in Johannesburg, South Africa. Space restrains us from giving further insight into his rich background but this suffices.
Through the rich years of banking experience at the highest level, there is hardly any major investor in Nigeria that Udom Emmanuel has not interacted with. He also possesses a high network of contacts of day to day business people within and outside Nigeria. Given Akwa Ibom's future aspirations and based on the afore going and much more factors that Udom stays naturally ahead in the race to manage Akwa Ibom's huge resources from May 29, 2015.
Akwa Ibom State has very tremendous investment potential. My interaction with Udom reveals a pan Akwa Ibom man with a burning passion to achieve results for the state with our "mean" resources. Take the tourism industry for instance, The tourism industry in Akwa Ibom State promises an unlimited investment potential. The state has rich tourist sites that are eagerly awaiting investors to cash-in. The state boast of road networks that crisscross the entire landscape of the state. The state has an international Airport. And there is the largest golf course in Africa and a five Star Ibom Resort Hotel being managed by Le Meridian, a global player in the hotel industry. In spite of these giant strides, there is need for more of such resorts to take advantage of the bustling tourist interest in the state. It is possible.
With resort-type beaches such as the Ibeno Beach , Qua River water-side, the water front area of the Oron River adjacent to the Museum with its humid and temperate climate, the ancient trading beach at Okopedi , Itu; the tropical oil palm scenery of the Ibagwa river valley, the Ibaka fishing settlement site, James Town, Uta Ewa fishing settlement, Ibaka beach, Obuabu Blue River and the Consular beach at Ikot Abasi are all resorts waiting to be fully developed and exploited.
Beside these scintillating resort sites, Udom understands the state’s historical sites demand urgent development. Such sites include; the oil Palm produce ware-houses and the UAC Company agents residence ; the Mary Slessor Cairn site on top of the Okoyong hill, there is the ancient tree grove at Afaha Offiong in Nsit Ibom; the Slave trading ware houses at Ikot Abasi, Itu, the building where the amalgamation treaty was signed by Lord Frederick Lugard in 1914 at Ikot Abasi, the old Presbyterian Church at Itu, built under the supervision of Mary Slessor; the Itu hill walk-way that also has the first telephone line and Post office, among others. The amazing mixture of traditionalism and modernity provides an awakening, a window to another virile and colourful glimpse of African humanity and its cultural and natural environment. As an Ibibio myth says,”challenging demands and rewarding opportunities await those who dare to reach out for the priceless jewel on the python’s head”. This aptly describes what Akwa Ibom presents to an Investor. And we know Udom is the man with th best experience and capacity to bring it to fruition.
Our maritime potential is massive too, who takes over from Governor Akpabio and what happens to the Ibaka deep seaport? The area designated for the project has the longest coastline and just five kilometers to the capital city. With a depth of between 15 and 18 meters water channel and 129 kilometers stretch of land it has some of the best port features that could be found anywhere in the world. With Ibaka deep seaport, we will have a seaport that will not require perennial dredging. Investors will be in business for a very long time without bothering about dredging. The port will serve all countries in the Gulf of Guinea. The peaceful nature of the community and availability of undeveloped land will make the area a self-sustaining industrial city when the port is completed. In addition to the port, the area will also harbour independent power plants, refinery and industries. It sounds great and unbelievable but achievable. It will employ 100,000 Nigerians, strengthen our country’s position in oil and gas sector in the world. It will be the nation’s gateway to the rest of the world through the Gulf of Guinea. Excellent potential. We cannot afford to play politics with it. It is equivalent to announcing the near end of unemployment in the state. With Udom Emmanuel in charge , the industrial, commercial and maritime landscape of Akwa Ibom State will never be the same again. All indicators of empowerment, youth and professional employment, wealth creation and entrepreneurship will become visible in the entire spectrum of the state.
Interestingly, Akwa Ibom State is the only Nigerian state that is served by three export free zones. That means, triple benefits for investors. There is an export processing zone at Ikot Abasi The state also falls within the catchment areas for Calabar export processing zone and the oil and gas free zone in Port Harcourt. Because we are positioned midway between the two port cities of Calabar and Port Harcourt, Akwa Ibom has unlimited access to the world, whether by air or by sea. Much more, we have become part of Nigeria’s gateway to the countries of Central Africa, like Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea and Congo. These are great market potentials for our industries. It requires a hand that is passionate and knowleagible and can go all the way to give it a futuristic touch. These are not projects that will attract instant political praises but it most certainly create jobs and open a vista for emerging market. The Udom Emmanuel magic can bring this to light.
A strong State and investor friendly economy requires more than a balanced budget. It requires progress in those programs that spur our growth and fortify our unity. Upgrading our urban centres will be key. Udom Emmanuel will step up existing urban renewal and housing programs in all of our Local Government headquarters , expand and extend clean water supply schemes to all LGA’s, redouble the attack on water pollution–sustain aid to our airport, hospitals, highways and secure training and equipment for law enforcement to combat crime and youth delinquency. This will attract the investors to stay.
We cannot rely wholly on the federal government allocation. We must expand our revenue base by improving our Internally Generated Revenue sources. Nothing prevents us as a State government to engage in international trade. I suggest the enactment of legislation to set up a State Produce Board charged with the responsibility of developing and trading all of our internationally trade-able resources. Our businessmen and women must be encouraged and assisted to be export conscious and export competitive. Our tax policies should spur industrialization and the rehabilitation and
modernization of existing industries–our wage and price gains must be consistent with productivity to hold the line on prices.
Export credit legislation and an effective promotion campaign for Akwa Ibom industries will further encourage export trade and sustainable growth. If we move decisively, our factories can be revived and our farms can increase their production and sales to the richest, fastest- growing market of Asia, North America and Europe. Our exports
will increase. Our debts will be serviced and budget deficits reduced; we will have forged across the Atlantic, in Europe and in Asia a trading partnership with markets that have a vast appetite for our resources. This can help sustain the economic growth of
our State for generations to come.
The danger is this, if we hang back in deference to local economic pressures and rely solely on Federal allocations and a marginal IGR, our capital budget will continue to be funded through increased borrowing. Our Industries–and I believe this is most vital—our industries will move their plants and jobs and capital inside the walls of Markets and territories with strong consumer spending, and jobs, therefore, will be lost here in Akwa Ibom if they cannot otherwise be sustained by a vibrant State economy. The issues concerning Akwa Ibom's future are grave that requires a higher thinking mentality to match it. Udom Emmanuel's aim and goal is to enlarge the prosperity of Akwa Ibom and our people. To build in partnership a new trading community in which our trading partners and us may gain from the productive energy of free competitive effort Udom Emmanuel is prepared. He has the wide practical experience. He is home grown, no stranger at all. He possesses the intellectual capacity to assemble what his aides will put forward into a fine analyses. He comes from that part of the state that ought to have a shot at the Hilltop Mansion seat. He is favoured by God, man and the political pundits. Udom is Right. He is our future investor's delight.
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