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Ohanaeze, Aka Ikenga draw leaders to Asaba
CHARLES ABAH
A galaxy of
Ndigbo personages including Senate President Chief Adolphus Wabara and
former vice-president Dr. Alex Ekwueme will this week-end converge on Asaba,
Delta State for a leadership retreat organised by Aka Ikenga alongside
Ohanaeze.
The retreat with the theme, "Njikoka:
A Search for Fresh Standards", would begin this Friday at Grand Hotel, Asaba
with former Science and Technology Minister Prof. Barth Nnaji delivering the
keynote address.
Also, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
governor Prof. Charles Soludo, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and a
director at the Pan-African University Lagos, Prof. Pat Utomi, would speak on
Reforms and Future of Ndigbo, Economy and Economic Empowerment: Ndigbo
in search of strategy.
Other personalities expected on the
occasion are governors James Ibori of Delta State; his Ebonyi counterpart, Dr.
Sam Egwu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Opara;
former Supreme Court Justice, Charles Oputa; President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
Prof. Joe Irukwu; chairman, Council of Eastern States, Dr. Matthew T. Mbu, and
the President, Izu Anioma Chief P.O. Ozieh.
The retreat divided into several plenary
sessions would feature former general manager, Federal Housing Authority, Chief
Fortune Ebie; Archbishop of Onitsha, Rev. Valerian Okeke; Bishop of Asaba,
Nicholas Okoh and the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) Bishop Mike Okonkwo
among others examining the theme of reconciliation and consolidation.
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant of
the President on Due Process, Dr. (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesili, Senator Uche
Chukwumerije, Dr. Edwin Madunagu, Tony Idigbe (SAN) and Prof. Ada Mere would
X-ray responsibility and accountability- Ndigbo executive and legislative
arms.
"Leadership proliferation and politics
without principles" would be examined by Prof. Emeka Enejere, former Speaker,
House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Special
Adviser to the president on Constitutional Matters, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and Dr.
Ngozi Anyaegbunam, while former Finance Minister, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu and the
Managing Director, Nigeria Breweries, Festus Odimegwu and others would take
holistic look at "regional projects and common services: an Ndigbo
development plan."
The organisers in a statement by Chris
Asoluka and Goddy Uwazurike added that ‘access of finance’ would be looked into
with the chairman Zinox Technologies Limited, Chief Leo-Stan Eke, his Cosharis
Limited counterpart, Mr. Cosmas Maduka and Bank Chieftains Jim Ovia (Zenith),
Marc Wabara (Hallmark) Dr. (Mrs) Joy Udensi (Citizens) examing how the Igbo
would be empowered.
In the same vein, National Economic
Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS): Commerce and economic resource
Ndigbo response would be examined by Senator Ama Iwuagwu, Peter Okocha, Dr.
Ibe Kachikwu as well as the chairman of Neimeth Pharmaceutical Plc, Mazi Sam
Ohuabunwa among other resource persons, while new frontiers for Ndigbo
and Nigeria: 2005-2015 would be looked into by Prof. Martins Agbaji,
Vice-chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Ernest Ndukwe,
National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. (Mrs)
Dora Akunyili among others.
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