By: John Okiyi Kalu
On Thursday, former Govenor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD, was the keynote Speaker at the Focus Africa Leaders Forum and Awards event held in Abuja. The theme of the program was SHOWCASING AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENTAL CAPACITIES IN THE CURRENT MULTI POLAR REALITIES.
Due to personal issues I couldnt attend the program but after reading media reports on the highly succesful program with the accompanying diverse response I requested for the full video of the presentation by HE Dr Okezie Ikpeazu to enable me learn and also undestand the diversity of feedback from his presentation.
At a certain level in life you learn to avoid knee jerk response to media reports without making attempt to properly educate yourself and verify facts. I suspect I am currently at that level.
Dr Ikpeazu’s presentation reminded me of a recent address by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) where the Directorr General of WTO advised national and sub-national leaders in Nigeria to ensure continuity of policies and programs in order to achieve sustained growth . She decried the penchant of new Presidents and Governors to abandon projects and programs of their predecessors simply out of pettiness and bitterness.
As expected, Govenor Ikpeazu drew heavily from his experience in government to do justice to the topic he handled at the forum which in turn genested many sustained applause from the audience. Leadership is more experiential than theoretical.
Sone of the keypoints I noted from his presentation are as follows:
1. Nigeria, and indeed all of Africa must begin to create and sell products in the global market. Not just raw materials, but items that have been processed and have more value added to them. That’s how to grow wealth and jobs.
2. We must work hard to develop a clear and strategic vision, a smart plan that helps us respond to the changing shape of the world, especially now that we live in a multipolar world where power is shared across many countries.
3. The time of waiting for grants and sympathy is over. We must rise and take responsibility for our future. No one else will do it for us.
4. Our vision must be strong enough that it doesn’t end when a leader leaves office. Successive leaders and even everyday citizens must be able to understand it, believe in it, and keep moving it forward. Leadership may change, but the dream must continue.
5. We have to keep building strength and solid foundations to support our small businesses and local enterprises. These are the engines of our economy, and they need all the help they can get.
6. Intra-African trade is not optional, it is a must.
We must learn to work with each other across African borders.
7. Step by step, with steady focus and good planning, we can build trade and manufacturing systems that will lift Africa out of poverty and hopelessness.
Any person who is genuinely concerned about growth and survival of our country at national and sub-national levels should readily identify with the points made by the erudite and deep thinking Dr Okezie Ikpeazu. He buttressed each point with life examples from his experience while serving as the Governor of Abia State between 2015 and 2023 and enriched the audience with what he did to meet the challenges of those days without mentioning or criticizing any Abia Leader, past or present, as jet should be.
Simply vintage Ikpeazu!!!
-John Billions
13/04/2025
