By Ubani Newman
The role of government in economic development and job creation has long been debated, and government intervention in the process of industrialization has been at the core of this debate. The stimulus for government to intervene or even engage in industrialization lies in the leadership’s interests and focuses, ranging from a concern for economic security and a desire to catch up and surpass the level of economic development in the advanced states. To this background, it is no gainsaying that the Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu-led administration has shown unprecedented commitment to the course of industrialization in Abia.
Just recently, the divinely ordained Governor of Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the shoemaking and leather industry in Obuaku city in Ukwa West Local Government Area.
Governor Ikpeazu, in line with his decision to uplift and sustain the economy of Abia State through industrialization, attracted the NIBRA Footwear Factory and Leather City Industrial Project, an Abia State Government Public Private Partnership (PPP) project aimed at revolutionizing the Aba footwear industries in the State using Brazilian technology in leather and footwear industries.
According to Chief Executive Officer to Abia Public Private Partnership (Abia PPP), Dr. Austin Ufomba, the Leather City Park and Nibra Footwear Project is a consummation of a journey that started about three years ago which at a point took the Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to Brazil in June, 2017. He also informed that the Designs Limited and NIBRA Brazil came together for the international partnership which is described as the first in Nigeria. He said that the project would revolutionize the leather and shoe business in Abia State.
As one of Abia’s key and revolutionary Public Private Partnership Projects (PPP) located in Obuaku, Ukwa West. The shoe factory will be the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, leveraging world class Brazilian technology.
There is no doubt that the project, when completed would provide employment to Abia people and improve the economy of the State thereby making the State attractive to all and sundry. It would also make Abia State the home of Investment.
The project is scheduled to be commissioned to commence production by the fourth quarter of 2019 and NIBRA will employ 1,000 people for a start growing to over 4,000 in the medium term. Under secured off take arrangements for 100% of our initial installed capacity, it will serve domestic and international markets. Leather City on the other hand, will provide opportunities to increase productivity and product quality for a significant number of the 120,000 individuals currently in Ariara market. The targeted production capacity is 100,000 pairs of shoes daily at full capacity. This means that on daily basis,100,000 pairs of shoes would be produced.
The shoe factory has employment capacity of 1,000 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. By implication, over 4,000 people would be engaged. Apart from that, there would be human capital development to be done for about 3,000 artisans, who would be trained and supported annually.
It is imperative to note that for the Abia artisans, private enterprises and SMEs, the Leather City will offer infrastructure as a shared service and skills development training to the growing population of Nigerian entrepreneurs in the leather and related goods space. This will form part of a broader strategy to leverage the National Leather Policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria and develop the local supply chain to reduce dependence on imports as the State improve the perception of made in Nigeria products. It is crystal clear that the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is poised to improve the frontiers for recognition of the footwear production in Abia and extend it beyond the shores of Nigeria to better the lots of Abia people especially, the artisans and entrepreneurs.
The Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu deserves to be commended for ensuring that the industry is established. Abia State is favoured by having a renowned scholar in governance who understands the economic terrain of Nigeria and leverages on the comparative advantage of the Abia State to bring about development in the State.
It is on the bases of performance such as this and equity, that every electorate in Abia State is called upon to come out “en masse” to maintain Governor Ikpeazu in power on 9th March, 2019 to sustain this giant strides in the State. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, ph.D is more determined to take Abia to the Canaan of her hope in his second tenure.
UNU,
18/02/2019
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