By CHARLES IWUOHA

Ohanaeze Ndigbo's Council of Igbo Business Leaders and the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) have collaborated for economic development and integration in Igbo land.

According to the two organisations, it was high time critical stakeholders of the South-East region united to forge a formidable front for the development of the zone to stem the tide of youth unemployment and other social menace.

Speaking at a meeting, in Enugu on Monday, Chairman of the Council of Igbo Business Leaders, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, said the Igbo should factor the South-East Zone in their investments plans, adding: "Our region has suffered so much over a long time and combined with several other historical, political, social and economic factors".

Ohuabunwa, who outlined the mandate of the Council to include identification of young Igbo entrepreneurs and groom them towards mega business ventures; creation of a united and credible voice that will speak for the business community in Igbo land; the creation and development of markets in Igbo, among others called for synergy with the South-East Development Commission and other stakeholders.

He said: "This is the opportunity we long wished for. I must thank Mr Mark Okoye for responding quickly to our letter and the board and management for approving this meeting. Let me thank upfront my colleagues who have made the sacrifices to be here today despite the apparent short notice and conflict with previous important schedules.

"The first assignment of the Council was to review the terms of reference and after an exhaustive debate, it became clear to us that what the Ohanaeze Ndigbo essentially wants us to do is to work with Governments in our region and with agencies charged with regional development and to support them to bring enhanced economic development to Igbo land and change the situation and condition of our people.

"Our region has suffered so much neglect over a long time combined with several other historical, political, social and economic factors. Our people have been widely dispersed all over Nigeria where they have significant contributions to the social and economic development of those regions.

"Over time, it has resulted in apparent neglect of our region in terms of economic and social development. Youth unemployment became rife and there were troubling upticks in social malfeasance.

"It is therefore the desire of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to use the auspices of this Council to guide our people who wish to invest at home on what to do to have pleasant experiences. But to enable us to perform this role appropriately, we need to be on the same page with governments and development agencies in our region.

"We need to understand the investment plans and policies of the State Governments and the South-East Development Commission so that we can correctly represent the issues and guide against misinformation or mischief."

On his part, SEDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mark Okoye, thanked the leadership of the Council and urged partnership in order to move the region forward.

He said there was a need to entrench investment mobilisation; diaspora and domestic network; South-East venture capital program; small and medium enterprise development and capacity building; and advisory and policy input amongst stakeholders.