Former Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji, has said that lack of social amenities such as irregular supply of electricity, water, bad roads as well as multiple taxation are some of the challenges facing operation of businesses in the country.
Professor Nnaji stated this at a “Business Lunch” organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Enugu and District Society, held at Golden Royale Hotels, Enugu on Saturday.
Emmanuel Nnamani standing
Nnaji who was a Key-note Speaker at the Business Lunch with the theme: “Eastern Business Initiatives”, went down memory lane x-raying the harsh business environment he had to encounter in bringing on stream, Geometric Power, Aba, urged members of ICAN to use their professional know-how to overcome their business challenges as abandoning them for white collar jobs abroad might not be the lasting solution.
“We should be part of our problem’s solution. If you leave the problems here and travel abroad where there are social amenities such as regular supply of water, electricity, good network of roads. It is good but you will come back here someday to meet the same problems you left. So, it is better we stay here and help in solving our problems”, he added.
The two-time former minister of Power, and Science and Technology, respectively, lauded members of ICAN for putting up the Business Lunch, stressing that it is apt and timely especially now that the country is passing through difficult time.
Mrs. Comfort Olujumoke Eyitayo speaking
Also speaking, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State said that the state would continue to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, adding that Enugu is business-friendly and remains the safest state in the country.
Governor Ugwuanyi who spoke at the event through his Commissioner of Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, commended members of ICAN for organizing the lunch and urged them to use the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the state.
He noted that bi-partisan politics of the present administration had brought peace and development in the state.
Chidi Aro
“We are interested in robost interaction with business men and women for a strong and viable economy. There is a just system in Enugu State”, he added.
Earlier in his opening address, the Chairman of EDS-ICAN, Mr. Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, bemoaned the mood of the nation coupled with the South East Economy which he noted have failed to enkindle hope in the minds of younger Nigerians, leaving them with the only option of escaping the hardship in the country in pursuit of greener pastures elsewhere.
The EDS-ICAN Chairman who said the business lunch was to rekindle hope of business survival and sustainability, and to provide emerging business opportunity to the people, further stated that the vision of ICAN is to be a leading global professional body, adding that the forum is expected to catalys business growth in the southeast geo-political zone.
Nnamani stated that they would continue to strive with a view to making sure that accounting values they had shared through all ages are sustained.
Cross section of participants
“The trend of the nation and indeed the South East economy have failed to elicit hope in the minds of our younger generation, and only available option left for our people is to seek for immediate relocation out of the country.
The absolute loss of hope seem to be engineered by inability of government at all levels to match critical infrastructure with the massive growing population.
“The need to establish is quite dying, while the existing and struggling ones do not know how to fix their daunting challenges.
“The essence of this business lunch… is to rekindle hope of business survival and sustainability, and to provide emerging business opportunity to our people for their buy-in and necessary action.
He also thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for his people-oriented programmes and policies as well as providing them land to build their Secretariat in Enugu.
In her speech, the President of ICAN, Mrs. Comfort Olujumoke Eyitayo, urged her members to use the opportunity of the lunch to share experiences and challenges, commending the organizers for the event.
She charged members of ICAN to continue to promote and sustain accountability both in private and public spheres.
Among other speakers at the event were: Dr Okechukwu John Mbonu, the Secretary to Enugu State Government (SSG), Simon Ortuanya, Chika Agbaka, Henry Nduka Awuregu, Prince Chinedu Nsofor.
Participants
Technical paper presented included, among others, demographic characteristics of Southeast, obstacles to business growth, macro-business obstacles and COVID-19 outbreak. (GMTNews)
