A/Ibom Industrialization policy, NUJ calls for establishment of Industrial Parks

By; Patrick Titus, Uyo.
As the current economy recession calls for the alternative strategies by government to diversify the economy from the oil sector, the need for the establishment of industrial parks in Akwa Ibom state has been emphasized.
Having cluster of firms in strategic places and equip them with necessary infrastructure will among other things help to reduce the cost of production by private entrepreneurs as facilities needed in the production processes will be shared by all the business outfits located within the park.
This becomes necessary in order to properly harness the rich natural potentials of the state, besides, driving the industrial policy of the state government to create wealth, food sufficiency and fight poverty.
Chairman of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Elder Patrick Albert while receiving in audience, members of Akwa Ibom Organised Private Sector Association (AKOPSA) at the press centre in Uyo, on Tuesday called on the organisation to partner the state government to realize the goal.
Albert said that the empirical records of investment opportunities in Akwa Ibom state showed that the state is rich in both agricultural and industrial contents; therefore, with the commitments and passions on the part of AKOPSA, Akwa Ibom state government would translate its industrialization policy into action.
“To establish industrial parks in Akwa Ibom is a welcome development. NUJ will educate government on the need to have such business clusters across the state so as to maximize the full potentials of the state natural endowment. Akwa Ibom is rich in both agricultural and industrial contents which provide opportunity for any investor to tap from and maximize profits”, he noted.
“With the planned business submit by the AKOPSA tailored at developing an economic blueprint which will help to establish businesses that will go beyond subsistence to revenue earnings, it is possible to say that Akwa Ibom fondly called as the “Land of Promise” will metamorphose into the Land of Fulfillment”, Elder Albert stated.
He said that NUJ on its part was ready to partner government at all levels in disseminating to the grassroots, any policy and programme that are people-oriented, especially in the socio-economic sectors because of their multiplier effects to the growth and well-being of all and sundry.
Elder Albert assured that the Union was committed to the wellbeing of people of the state therefore would hold government accountable to the people because accountability is the beauty of good governance and trust in leadership.
Earlier, Chairman, Board of Trustees of AKOPSA, Mr. Uduak Udo who led members of the Association on a courtesy visit to the Chairman and members of newly inaugurated State Working Committee (SWC) of NUJ at the press centre, said their visit was to seek partnership with NUJ in view of the enormous roles that the media play at driving the economy of any nation.
Uduak said that the aims and objectives of AKOPSA which is barely a year in the state are to project business activities in the state and encourage investment by organizing programmes to educate the public of the vast investment opportunities in the state which they can investment their money and maximize profits.
He explained that AKOPSA membership cuts across persons who run private businesses in the state and who have come together to help themselves and the system by promoting business activities knowing that government alone cannot do all.
The AKOPSA BOT Chairman, who is also the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Faduk Group of Companies in Uyo identified the delay in issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) by the Akwa Ibom state government to property owners in the state as one of the factors meditating against the growth of private businesses in the state.
He called on the state government to look into the problem since it will help business owners who own property to use same as collateral to access bank facilities to improve their businesses.
Uduak also announced plan by the AKOPSA to organize its 2nd business submit in October this year in Uyo to galvanize ideas that are business oriented to help private sector to grow, just as the state government has reiterated its commitment to industrialize the state.
AKOPSA chairman was accompanied on the visit by members of the Board of Trustees who themselves are proud owners of business outfits in the state. Among them were; Mr. Alphonsus Inyang – MD/CEO of VMW Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Aniekan Etuk – MD of Oliver Twist eatery and Dr. Cordelia Etuk COE of Illumins Nigeria Ltd.