David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
The Chairman of the Nigeria-Burundi Business Council, and Pro-Chancellor of Olivia University, Burundi, Mr Paul Chukwuma has said that more power projects like the Aba Power project in states in the South-east can make the zone a manufacturing hub in Nigeria.
The businessman stated this during a visit to the Geometric Power plant in Aba, at the weekend, a study visit to the plant to understand the working principles and business model of the Aba Integrated Power Plant.
Chukwuma said if states in the zone make similar investments, in the next 10 years, the dream of making the South-east the manufacturing hub of Nigeria would have been realised.
During an interactive session with the CEO of Geometric Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, and his management team, Chukwuma said, “I want to commend you for your commitment and perseverance to this project despite the litany of challenges. It shows unbridled love for nation-building.
“As an entrepreneur from Umueri in Anambra State, my visit to your facility partly finds an expression in the biblical invitation to Apostle Paul to come over to Macedonia for help.
“Anambra as a commercial centre is losing, due to the absence of reliable energy such that many industries have gone under and the remaining few are struggling to survive.
“The effect of this kind of project on the economy of Aba and by extension the South-east will be far-reaching. The expected result is that many businesses will move into Aba to utilise this reliable energy, especially manufacturing businesses. When this happens we expect to see the unemployment rate in Aba and its environs drop alongside youth restiveness.
“We know that this can be replicated in Anambra State so that many more businesses can benefit and the effects sync with that of Aba to give an ultra boost to commerce in the South-east and perhaps, produce the “Asian Miracle” for Nigeria.”
Chukwuma who visited the plant with notable businessmen from Anambra, was later shown around the plant, alongside his entourage, while experts from the company took time to explain the workings of the plant to them.
