Institute tasks S’South, S’East govs on insecurity, economy

Institute of Directors (IOD) has charged South South and South East governors to boost efforts towards improving security in their regions and also embrace emerging technologies, which are vital to economic growth.

IOD National President, Dr. Ije Jidenma, reminded the governors that leadership is a selfless service and not an investment, urging them to deploy the best brains to render competent service to the people.

Jidenma stated this at the weekend during a business luncheon, with the theme, ‘Driving Sustainable Business in the South South and South East Regions: Issues, Challenges and Solutions’, organised by the institute in Port Harcourt.

She said: “Governors make policies. So, we want the attributes of IOD in our governors, such as competence and selfless service. They should know that leadership is not an investment but a service. It is sad that some see it as an investment. We must help our people to think Nigeria, to stay home. We must focus on originality, no copying.”

She also urged members of the institute to become part of the solution. Stressing the need for partnership, she said: “We want to see networking and collaboration in IOD, especially with universities. We want to focus on Small and Medium- sized Enterprises (SMEs), not just the multi-nationals. We want to see clusters from across the country. We want SMEs to have access to corporate governance, good accounting and good business models. We believe that if we support them with institutional capacity, we will see many of them blossom into big corporations.”

She commended the state branch of the institute for putting together the forum aimed at finding solutions to numerous challenges in the regions.

Similarly, the Head of Service in Rivers State, Rufus Godwins, expressed concern over the lingering strike in the nation’s universities and threats by some airlines to shut down business in Nigeria.

He said these challenges affect growth and development in the country, adding that if the airlines cease operation, lots of businesses and parastatals would be affected.

Godwins noted that many businesses in the South East have collapsed because of the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra. He wondered if enforcers of the order feel the pains of citizens. He, however, added that Rivers State is safe for business, urging investors to make use of the advantage.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Tombari Sibe, said: “There is need for strategic collaborations between the South South and South East to dismantle unnecessary regulatory roadblocks.”

He recommended that education in the regions should be given prime attention as a macro-economic tool, even as he urged the states to embrace emerging technologies.

Also speaking, the zonal chairman, represented by the assistant secretary, South South/South East zone, Kufre Abasi Etim Ubaha, lamented that the current security challenge in the country is a big threat to the business environment. He, therefore, called for improvement to sustain the economy.

Participants at the forum expressed sadness over unfriendly business environment, urging governors of the region to reverse the situation.