By Modupe Gbadeyanka
On February 6 and 7, 2020, stakeholders will converge on Nnewi, Anambra State for the inaugural edition of the Nnewi Investment Summit.
The event is sponsored by Ford Foundation and a group of experts and industrialists as part of efforts to draw attention to the economic opportunities in nation’s manufacturing hub in the south-eastern part of Nigeria.
According to the organisers, the summit was designed to leverage the already thriving industrial and commercial activities in Nnewi and harness them for the wider economic development of Nigeria.
Participants will deliberate on theme of the programme, Revitalizing the Manufacturing Hub of Africa, while former Presidential candidate and Development Economist, Prof Kingsley Moghalu; Ike Chioke, CEO Afrinvest Ltd; and Mr Innocent Chukwuma, West Africa Regional Director, Ford Foundation, will lead the conversations.
Commenting on the summit, Mr Kelechi Nwosu, CEO of the leading marketing communications agency, TBWA\Concept Unit, one of the pioneers of the event, said the Nnewi Industrial hub should further developed and should bepromoted as a model for economic growth in Anambra state andNigeria in general.
Mr Nwosu noted that Nnewi is a unique town where young entrepreneurs and courageous artisans with limited formal education exploit their wit to create amazing stories of manufacturing and industrialization in Nigeria.
“The overall agenda of the summit is to draw the attention of stakeholders to the benefits of revitalisation and rebranding of Nnewi as an industrial hub in Africa by leveraging on its past glory and current potential.
“We are also expecting this Summit to start the formation of alliance development that will create a blended intervention programme involving policy makers, Private investors and donor organisation (philanthropists),” the marketing communications guru stated.
Mr Nn’Emeka Maduegbuna, Chairman of another pioneer of the summit, C & F Porter Novelli, noted that the event will be important in fostering collaboration among businesses to increase comparative advantage within Nnewi and environ.
While raising expectations that the Summit will attract foreign and local investors that would create jobs and have an impact on businesses in Nnewi and Nigeria at large, Mr Maduegbuna said it will also seek to sensitise and create awareness for a new way of thinking that will create opportunities for young men and women within and outside the region while also generating better quality and quantity employment opportunities for young men and women via entrepreneurial activity and direct employment.
Sponsored by the Ford Foundation in partnership with the Nnewi Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Anambra Broadcasting Service, the two-day summit is envisioned to drive the growth agenda for young indigenous businesses by outlining how they can scale with the right exposure, branding and capacity building projects.
