The President of Africa Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has assured the government of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, of his readiness and willingness to partner the state towards the actualisation of development of critical infrastructure in the state.
A glaring indication that Governor Ikpeazu’s meeting with the Bank’s President yielded positive returns for the State, as the latter commended Ikpeazu’s clarity of vision.
According to a release signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Chief Onyebuchi Ememanka (Esq.), the meeting of the Governor in the company of his with the Bank management yesterday at the Bank Headquarters, in Abidjan centered on issues affecting infrastructural development, agriculture and women empowerment in the State.
The release reads in part:
“The Governor’s presentation dealt with the need for institutional support for the state in the area of financing critical infrastructure as a strategy to help develop the local economy in the State.
Describing the people of Abia State as enterprising, industrious, hardworking and innovative”.
“Governor Ikpeazu stated that if the needed funding for the upgrade of key infrastructural projects were provided, it will go a long way in the quest to strengthen the economy of the state and help to transform the State, especially the city of Aba into a major economic hub, not just for Nigeria but the entire African continent”.
The release further disclosed that the Governor requested the Bank President to fast track the approval process for the Abia State Integrated Infrastructural Project having fulfilled all stipulated conditions by the bank in that regard.
“He also requested that the Bank buys into the Enyimba Economic City Project, describing it as the most ambitious economic development project in the country presently”.
Responding, the President of the African Development Bank and Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina thanked the Governor for the visit and assured that the Bank was satisfied with the clarity of the vision of the Governor for his people, “and will definitely partner with the State in several areas”, he promised.
Among other things, the president of the bank gave specific assurances that the development of Enyimba Economic City Project was top on the agenda of the Bank based on its capacity to turn around the economy of the South East region of the country.
Also, he acknowledged that the city of Aba had the capacity to become a major Economic hub, hence the productive capacity and entrepreneurial ingenuity of the people.
“The Bank has an economic stimulus program specifically designed for women called the AFFIRMATIVE FINANCE ACTION FOR WOMEN IN AFRICA. Under this program, the Bank, in recognition of the critical roles played by the African woman in the economic development of Africa, has developed the program which will leverage the Bank’s financial instruments to increase lending to women”, he said.
