By Uzo Ugwunze
The Chairman/CEO Seahorse Lubricant Industries Ltd and Nigerian Democratic Congress NDC Party Senatorial Candidate for Anambra South Senatorial District, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo has declared his commitment to sponsoring legislative bills that will support and make Anambra State more attractive for business growth and investment.
Speaking at his factory in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo LGA during a facility tour conducted by the Nigerian Union of Journalists Anambra State Council as part of the activities to mark the Council’s 35 years anniversary, Chief Onunkwo said Anambra has all it takes to become the SME capital of Nigeria, but it needs deliberate laws and policies to reduce the cost of doing business.
“I joined the Senatorial race to be in the red chamber because as an employer of labor here in Anambra State predominantly known for businesses and entrepreneurs, I need a platform to make laws that will create enabling environment to make business thrive for Ndi Anambra.
” I need a platform to make laws for a business-friendly Anambra. Our traders, artisans, and young entrepreneurs are hardworking, but they are burdened by no electricity ,multiple taxes, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to capital. The laws we make must protect them and encourage them to invest at home,” he stated.
“Firstly, We must create laws to improve power supply. 99.9 percent of power here is generated from diesel which is not good for business competition. A state like Anambra needs independent power station for electricity. There should be Budgets for industrial clusters or layouts with electricity substations to provide adequate power supply. It will reduce running and production costs which will in turn stabilize or lower price of products.
“Also, we need good road infrastructure for easy access to goods and raw materials. While performing my oversight function I must make sure that the roads built across the state meet the durability standard,” said Onunkwo.
Onunkwo also said that laws should be made to enable young entrepreneurs access funds and loans at a 1 digit interest rate. The Commercial banks are no go areas for beginners but the bottlenecks involved in obtaining funds from the Bank of Industry need to be reviewed.
“When I get to the Senate , I will sponsor bills institutionalizing Igba Boi/ apprenticeship scheme for businesses saying that an assurance of settlement after apprenticeship will give youths confidence to still believe in Igba Boi other than get rich quick syndrome,” he said.
The Ihembosi born Philanthropist advised that more of the funds allocated to Governors as security votes should be used to fight insecurity because no business or industry thrives in a state prone to security challenges.
Moreso,Mr. Onunkwo noted that his intervention programs have already reached thousands of Ndi Anambra.
According to Onunkwo, I started very small after my business apprenticeship (Igba Boi) at Cotonou, Benin Republic and I prayed to God in my small shop that if he blesses me with wealth, I will help humanity.
“God answered my prayers and because of my love for education, I started given out scholarships starting from my community Ihembosi to Ekwusigo my LGA, across the seven LGAs in the Anambra South Senatorial District and Anambra State.
“From 2007 over 4,000 students of Ihembosi Community Secondary School have benefited from free WAEC/NECO registration sponsored by me. Over 500 indigent students are on scholarship, and over 500 persons have been employed as staff of Seahorse Lubricants Industries Ltd.
“I did not just decide to go into politics because I am a not politician but the people saw how I built my wealth and industry from the scratch with little or nothing and decided that I must go because they saw in me as the person who has capacity and compassion needed to represent them in the Senate.
“Till date, noone has been able to fill the gap left by Late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. The masses who have benefitted from the interventions through my foundation over two decades have been pleading with me to represent them. My popularity and that of Mr Peter Obi, the NDC Presidential flag bearer is a combination that can realize our vision after the victory in the 2027 general elections.
He said that these achievements and the positive working relationship between him and the entire staff of Seahorse Lubricants Industries were proofs that he would maintain a healthy open door relationship with people from Anambra South Senatorial District when elected a senator.
Ebuka Onunkwo called on stakeholders to support leaders who understand enterprise and will prioritize enabling laws for security, infrastructure, ease of doing business, and youth empowerment.
Also, the Philanthropic Industrialist after advising media practitioners to be objective and balanced in their reporting called on people with integrity, the clergy, industrialists, Business owners, Career persons, teachers, others to be bold to take up political positions saying that if decent people shy away from politics, touts will occupy seats to make laws for the people.
However, the NUJ Anambra State Council Chairman, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD who led the facility tour commended Chief Ebuka Onunkwo for his Philanthropy and for putting food in the table of many families who are employed in his multi billion naira industry urging other illustrious sons and daughters of Anambra to emulate Ebuka Onunkwo by thinking home and investing in lives of Ndi- Anambra and the entire South East as panacea to hunger, insecurity and hardship.
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