In an imposing ceremony that seamlessly blends custom with up to date imaginative and prescient, Chief Higher Joseph Ekeh Oniniwu, affectionately often known as Alaowerri, stands on the nexus of heritage and progress. Just lately bestowed with the revered chieftaincy title “Oputu-Obia” by His Royal Majesty, Eze Obi Ejeshi of Emekuku, Chief Ekeh has develop into an emblem of hope and a champion for honest governance in Imo State. His outstanding profession bridges continents, from main worldwide ventures as Chairman of Adavinn Inn and CEO of Alaowerri Restaurant in London to fervently advocating for his neighborhood at dwelling. Now, in an unique, no-holds-barred interview with Africa Digital Information, New York, Chief Ekeh unveils his imaginative and prescient for Imo State’s future and makes a compelling case for an indigenous Owerri native to guide as governor.
Chief Ekeh’s journey is a testomony to private {and professional} reinvention. The identical visionary who has drawn international funding to Imo State now goals to recalibrate the state’s growth insurance policies in order that they really replicate the distinct wants of its various geopolitical zones. With Imo State’s strong financial profile—a GDP of $19.02 billion and its standing as Nigeria’s fourth-largest financial system—the crucial for balanced and inclusive management has by no means been extra pressing. But beneath these spectacular figures lie persistent challenges: youth unemployment, regional disparities, and the urgent want for sustainable development. For Chief Ekeh, these points resonate on a deeply private degree and drive his relentless pursuit of equitable progress.
Chief Ekeh has proven the power to adapt each personally and professionally. After securing international funding for Imo State, he plans to regulate growth insurance policies to deal with the wants of its numerous areas. Regardless of having a GDP of $19.02 billion, rating as Nigeria’s fourth-largest financial system, Imo State faces points reminiscent of youth unemployment, regional disparities, and the necessity for sustainable development. Chief Ekeh is targeted on addressing these challenges and selling balanced growth.
In candid dialogue, Chief Ekeh confronts tough questions head-on. He eloquently explains how custom can enrich trendy governance, utilizing his chieftaincy honor as a residing instance of how ancestral knowledge can information moral, community-centered management. “Custom just isn’t merely a vestige of the previous,” he insists, “it’s a dynamic pressure that shapes and evokes our future.” His advocacy for an Owerri governor is born from the conviction that native management is important for addressing the distinctive challenges of the area, bringing insights, empathy, and tailor-made options which can be grounded in lived expertise.
All through the interview, Chief Ekeh provides incisive views that lower by political rhetoric. He outlines his help for the Imo Constitution of Fairness, a daring initiative designed to make sure rotational governance among the many state’s three geopolitical zones—Owerri, Okigwe, and Orlu. His imaginative and prescient is a system the place each zone contributes to and advantages from shared growth, fostering an atmosphere by which native voices are each revered and empowered.
This dialog, wealthy with considerate inquiry and trustworthy reflection, lays naked Chief Ekeh’s steadfast dedication to integrity, resilience, and inclusive progress. Africa Digital Information, New York presents an exploration of a person’s journey that transforms coverage and impacts lives with visionary concepts.
Right here is the complete transcript of the interview:
Chief Ekeh, you have been not too long ago honored with the esteemed title “Oputu-Obia” by His Royal Majesty, Eze Obi Ejeshi. How does this conventional recognition affect your strategy to trendy governance and your imaginative and prescient for a extra equitable Imo State?
Thanks for that query. Receiving the title “Oputu-Obia” is a profound honor that connects me to the deep-rooted knowledge of our ancestors. It jogs my memory that management just isn’t solely about trendy methods and insurance policies, it’s additionally about preserving our cultural heritage and upholding the values which have sustained our individuals by generations. This conventional recognition compels me to strategy governance with humility and a real dedication to our neighborhood’s well-being. It evokes me to merge time-tested ideas with progressive options, making certain that our developmental insurance policies will not be solely progressive but additionally deeply anchored within the wealthy legacy of Emekuku. In abstract, it requires leaders who possess each compassion and intelligence to ensure a good future for all residents of Imo State.
Your success as Chairman of Adavinn Inn and CEO of Alaowerri Restaurant in London is effectively documented. How do you translate your worldwide enterprise acumen into actionable methods that may reshape political management in Imo State?
My expertise in worldwide enterprise has taught me that success comes from understanding the nuances of each international markets and native communities. At Adavinn Inn and Alaowerri Restaurant, I realized to mix strategic foresight with a deep sensitivity to the wants of individuals—expertise which can be equally important in political management. In Imo State, profitable governance begins with understanding the aspirations and difficulties of the residents. I make the most of my enterprise experience to develop artistic and culturally applicable methods. By integrating greatest practices from the worldwide area with native insights, I goal to create insurance policies that not solely stimulate financial development but additionally uplift the lives of each particular person in our neighborhood. By demonstrating empathy and excellence, I search to remodel management in Imo State by collaboration with any Owerri native who turns into governor.
You ardently advocate for an Owerri native to imagine the governorship. In your view, what distinctive challenges confronted by the Owerri zone demand indigenous management, and the way would this enhance governance and growth for the area?
The distinctive challenges in Owerri are deeply intertwined with its native tradition and social material. Our neighborhood right here faces particular points, like infrastructural pressure, youth disenfranchisement, and uneven useful resource distribution which can be greatest understood by somebody who really lives these realities. An indigenous chief from Owerri inherently carries the lived experiences, cultural insights, and private dedication wanted to deal with these challenges with authenticity and sensitivity.
By having a pacesetter who’s rooted in Owerri, we will anticipate governance that’s not solely responsive but additionally proactive in crafting options tailor-made to the native context. Such management would prioritize community-driven initiatives, foster sustainable growth, and leverage native information to stimulate each financial development and social unity. This strategy transforms governance from a distant bureaucratic train right into a relatable, human-centered course of that resonates with the aspirations of each resident. In brief, having an Owerri native as governor means greater than political illustration, it alerts a promise of empathetic, inclusive, and visionary management that can bridge the hole between conventional values and trendy governance for the good thing about your complete area.
Imo State boasts a sturdy financial system, with a GDP of $19.02 billion and a rating as Nigeria’s fourth-largest financial system. But, points like excessive youth unemployment persist. How do you intend to harness this financial energy to create sustainable job alternatives and development for the youth?
Imo State’s strong $19.02 billion financial system is a transparent indicator of its huge potential, but youth unemployment stays a crucial problem, with latest figures from Nigeria’s Nationwide Bureau of Statistics displaying charges of round 28–30% amongst these aged 18–35. My technique focuses on changing our financial energy into actual alternatives by channeling investments into focused expertise growth and entrepreneurial initiatives. For example, research in related economies have demonstrated that vocational coaching can increase employment by as much as 20%, and structured startup ecosystems can scale back youth unemployment by a further 15%.
By forging partnerships with each native and worldwide enterprises, we plan to develop tailor-made coaching packages that equip our younger individuals with the marketable, future-ready expertise vital for right now’s dynamic job market. I additionally envision launching innovation hubs and mentorship platforms designed to empower youth as job creators slightly than simply job seekers. These initiatives will present entry to seed funding, micro-loans, and enterprise incubators, confirmed instruments which have helped different areas rework latent expertise into thriving enterprises.
My strategy just isn’t merely about growing job numbers; it’s about fostering a tradition of entrepreneurship and sustainable growth. By nurturing an atmosphere the place innovation and sensible expertise coaching go hand in hand, we will unlock the complete potential of our youth and be certain that financial development turns into a shared journey towards a affluent future for all residents of Imo State.
The Imo Constitution of Fairness introduces a mannequin of rotational governance from Orlu to Owerri. What particular measures do you consider are vital to make sure that this rotation interprets into significant growth slightly than being merely a symbolic gesture?
To make sure that rotational governance below the Imo Constitution of Fairness delivers actual, measurable progress slightly than serving as a symbolic gesture, we should implement a number of concrete measures. First, we want a sturdy, clear coverage framework that outlines particular, quantifiable developmental benchmarks for every administration. This framework ought to embrace targets for financial development, infrastructure growth, and social welfare packages that each chief is accountable for, no matter their time period.
Second, establishing an impartial oversight committee to watch progress and implement accountability is important. This physique would repeatedly consider efficiency in opposition to the set benchmarks and supply clear stories to the general public.
Third, it’s crucial to construct capability amongst incoming leaders by complete coaching and mentorship packages, making certain they’re totally ready to handle the complexities of governance from day one. Moreover, creating cross-zone advisory councils would foster collaboration among the many geopolitical zones—Owerri, Okigwe, and Orlu—making certain a seamless switch of institutional information and greatest practices.
These measures, mixed with common efficiency evaluations and citizen engagement, will rework rotational governance right into a dynamic engine for sustainable, equitable growth in Imo State.
Critics argue that political rotation would possibly disrupt continuity in policy-making. How do you reply to those considerations and what safeguards would you implement to keep up stability and constant progress throughout such transitions?
Political rotation, when executed thoughtfully, doesn’t inherently disrupt coverage continuity however slightly rejuvenates it. Critics fear that rotating management would possibly result in frequent adjustments in coverage path, but I consider that such a system, if designed with strong institutional safeguards, can guarantee stability. One key safeguard is the event of a complete coverage framework that transcends particular person tenures. This framework would enshrine core developmental objectives and ideas—reminiscent of sustainable financial development, equitable useful resource distribution, and youth empowerment assuring that every successive chief adheres to a constant long-term imaginative and prescient.
Furthermore, the formation of advisory councils composed of skilled professionals from various sectors can guarantee continuity throughout transitions. These councils would function guardians of institutional information, offering steering to new management and making certain sustained progress no matter administrative adjustments. Moreover, clear efficiency metrics and accountability mechanisms might be put in place. This may allow stakeholders to watch progress and make knowledgeable choices, lowering the probability of disruptions.
Political rotation, when managed with foresight and a deep dedication to shared aims, has the potential to inject recent concepts into governance with out sacrificing stability. It provides a possibility for various views to form insurance policies and handle the multifaceted challenges we face in Imo State. Realistically, this technique is designed not as a radical departure from continuity, however as a way to harness new power whereas preserving the important components of our growth agenda.
Seeking to the long run, if an Owerri native have been to be elected governor, what concrete steps would you’re taking—drawing from each your online business expertise and conventional management values—to foster a system of governance that’s each inclusive and geared towards complete growth for all geopolitical zones in Imo State?
If an Owerri native assumes the governorship, my strategy can be to implement a governance mannequin that’s each inclusive and geared towards complete growth throughout all our geopolitical zones. At the start, I might set up a multi-stakeholder advisory council—drawing members from Owerri, Okigwe, and Orlu—to make sure that each resolution displays the various wants and aspirations of our individuals. This council would act as a bridge between the federal government and native communities, making certain that insurance policies will not be developed in isolation however are rooted within the lived realities of our residents.
Leveraging my worldwide enterprise expertise, I might drive initiatives that foster public-private partnerships to stimulate native financial development. This implies creating innovation hubs and entrepreneurial incubators, notably in areas the place youth unemployment is most acute. By channeling investments into expertise growth and technology-driven tasks, we will rework challenges into alternatives. I envision launching packages that present micro-loans and mentorship for native startups, thereby empowering our youth to develop into job creators.
On the similar time, my dedication to conventional management values will be certain that cultural heritage and neighborhood cohesion stay on the forefront. I might work intently with conventional rulers and neighborhood leaders to craft insurance policies that honor our customs whereas embracing trendy governance practices. This twin strategy will assist construct a resilient, participatory framework the place each zone not solely contributes to but additionally advantages from our state’s growth agenda.
By fostering transparency, accountability, and mutual respect, we will set up an efficient governance mannequin that serves one of the best pursuits of all residents of Imo State.
Thanks, Chief Ekeh, for becoming a member of us right now and on your candid, insightful responses. Your imaginative and prescient for Imo State and your dedication to making sure that each citizen’s voice is heard really encourage us all. Earlier than we wrap up, may you please share your ultimate ideas with our viewers?
Thanks for having me. As we glance to the long run, I firmly consider that real management should bridge our cherished traditions with progressive methods that meet right now’s challenges. My hope is that by nurturing native expertise, fostering inclusive dialogue, and upholding the values that outline our neighborhood, we will create a governance mannequin that serves each nook of Imo State. I stay dedicated to advancing equitable growth and empowering our individuals, as a result of when every particular person is given the chance to thrive, our state as an entire rises. Collectively, let’s construct a future outlined by progress, justice, and unity.
In an imposing ceremony that seamlessly blends custom with up to date imaginative and prescient, Chief Higher Joseph Ekeh Oniniwu, affectionately often known as Alaowerri, stands on the nexus of heritage and progress. Just lately bestowed with the revered chieftaincy title “Oputu-Obia” by His Royal Majesty, Eze Obi Ejeshi of Emekuku, Chief Ekeh has develop into an emblem of hope and a champion for honest governance in Imo State. His outstanding profession bridges continents, from main worldwide ventures as Chairman of Adavinn Inn and CEO of Alaowerri Restaurant in London to fervently advocating for his neighborhood at dwelling. Now, in an unique, no-holds-barred interview with Africa Digital Information, New York, Chief Ekeh unveils his imaginative and prescient for Imo State’s future and makes a compelling case for an indigenous Owerri native to guide as governor.
Chief Ekeh’s journey is a testomony to private {and professional} reinvention. The identical visionary who has drawn international funding to Imo State now goals to recalibrate the state’s growth insurance policies in order that they really replicate the distinct wants of its various geopolitical zones. With Imo State’s strong financial profile—a GDP of $19.02 billion and its standing as Nigeria’s fourth-largest financial system—the crucial for balanced and inclusive management has by no means been extra pressing. But beneath these spectacular figures lie persistent challenges: youth unemployment, regional disparities, and the urgent want for sustainable development. For Chief Ekeh, these points resonate on a deeply private degree and drive his relentless pursuit of equitable progress.
Chief Ekeh has proven the power to adapt each personally and professionally. After securing international funding for Imo State, he plans to regulate growth insurance policies to deal with the wants of its numerous areas. Regardless of having a GDP of $19.02 billion, rating as Nigeria’s fourth-largest financial system, Imo State faces points reminiscent of youth unemployment, regional disparities, and the necessity for sustainable development. Chief Ekeh is targeted on addressing these challenges and selling balanced growth.
In candid dialogue, Chief Ekeh confronts tough questions head-on. He eloquently explains how custom can enrich trendy governance, utilizing his chieftaincy honor as a residing instance of how ancestral knowledge can information moral, community-centered management. “Custom just isn’t merely a vestige of the previous,” he insists, “it’s a dynamic pressure that shapes and evokes our future.” His advocacy for an Owerri governor is born from the conviction that native management is important for addressing the distinctive challenges of the area, bringing insights, empathy, and tailor-made options which can be grounded in lived expertise.
All through the interview, Chief Ekeh provides incisive views that lower by political rhetoric. He outlines his help for the Imo Constitution of Fairness, a daring initiative designed to make sure rotational governance among the many state’s three geopolitical zones—Owerri, Okigwe, and Orlu. His imaginative and prescient is a system the place each zone contributes to and advantages from shared growth, fostering an atmosphere by which native voices are each revered and empowered.
This dialog, wealthy with considerate inquiry and trustworthy reflection, lays naked Chief Ekeh’s steadfast dedication to integrity, resilience, and inclusive progress. Africa Digital Information, New York presents an exploration of a person’s journey that transforms coverage and impacts lives with visionary concepts.
Right here is the complete transcript of the interview:
Chief Ekeh, you have been not too long ago honored with the esteemed title “Oputu-Obia” by His Royal Majesty, Eze Obi Ejeshi. How does this conventional recognition affect your strategy to trendy governance and your imaginative and prescient for a extra equitable Imo State?
Thanks for that query. Receiving the title “Oputu-Obia” is a profound honor that connects me to the deep-rooted knowledge of our ancestors. It jogs my memory that management just isn’t solely about trendy methods and insurance policies, it’s additionally about preserving our cultural heritage and upholding the values which have sustained our individuals by generations. This conventional recognition compels me to strategy governance with humility and a real dedication to our neighborhood’s well-being. It evokes me to merge time-tested ideas with progressive options, making certain that our developmental insurance policies will not be solely progressive but additionally deeply anchored within the wealthy legacy of Emekuku. In abstract, it requires leaders who possess each compassion and intelligence to ensure a good future for all residents of Imo State.
Your success as Chairman of Adavinn Inn and CEO of Alaowerri Restaurant in London is effectively documented. How do you translate your worldwide enterprise acumen into actionable methods that may reshape political management in Imo State?
My expertise in worldwide enterprise has taught me that success comes from understanding the nuances of each international markets and native communities. At Adavinn Inn and Alaowerri Restaurant, I realized to mix strategic foresight with a deep sensitivity to the wants of individuals—expertise which can be equally important in political management. In Imo State, profitable governance begins with understanding the aspirations and difficulties of the residents. I make the most of my enterprise experience to develop artistic and culturally applicable methods. By integrating greatest practices from the worldwide area with native insights, I goal to create insurance policies that not solely stimulate financial development but additionally uplift the lives of each particular person in our neighborhood. By demonstrating empathy and excellence, I search to remodel management in Imo State by collaboration with any Owerri native who turns into governor.
You ardently advocate for an Owerri native to imagine the governorship. In your view, what distinctive challenges confronted by the Owerri zone demand indigenous management, and the way would this enhance governance and growth for the area?
The distinctive challenges in Owerri are deeply intertwined with its native tradition and social material. Our neighborhood right here faces particular points, like infrastructural pressure, youth disenfranchisement, and uneven useful resource distribution which can be greatest understood by somebody who really lives these realities. An indigenous chief from Owerri inherently carries the lived experiences, cultural insights, and private dedication wanted to deal with these challenges with authenticity and sensitivity.
By having a pacesetter who’s rooted in Owerri, we will anticipate governance that’s not solely responsive but additionally proactive in crafting options tailor-made to the native context. Such management would prioritize community-driven initiatives, foster sustainable growth, and leverage native information to stimulate each financial development and social unity. This strategy transforms governance from a distant bureaucratic train right into a relatable, human-centered course of that resonates with the aspirations of each resident. In brief, having an Owerri native as governor means greater than political illustration, it alerts a promise of empathetic, inclusive, and visionary management that can bridge the hole between conventional values and trendy governance for the good thing about your complete area.
Imo State boasts a sturdy financial system, with a GDP of $19.02 billion and a rating as Nigeria’s fourth-largest financial system. But, points like excessive youth unemployment persist. How do you intend to harness this financial energy to create sustainable job alternatives and development for the youth?
Imo State’s strong $19.02 billion financial system is a transparent indicator of its huge potential, but youth unemployment stays a crucial problem, with latest figures from Nigeria’s Nationwide Bureau of Statistics displaying charges of round 28–30% amongst these aged 18–35. My technique focuses on changing our financial energy into actual alternatives by channeling investments into focused expertise growth and entrepreneurial initiatives. For example, research in related economies have demonstrated that vocational coaching can increase employment by as much as 20%, and structured startup ecosystems can scale back youth unemployment by a further 15%.
By forging partnerships with each native and worldwide enterprises, we plan to develop tailor-made coaching packages that equip our younger individuals with the marketable, future-ready expertise vital for right now’s dynamic job market. I additionally envision launching innovation hubs and mentorship platforms designed to empower youth as job creators slightly than simply job seekers. These initiatives will present entry to seed funding, micro-loans, and enterprise incubators, confirmed instruments which have helped different areas rework latent expertise into thriving enterprises.
My strategy just isn’t merely about growing job numbers; it’s about fostering a tradition of entrepreneurship and sustainable growth. By nurturing an atmosphere the place innovation and sensible expertise coaching go hand in hand, we will unlock the complete potential of our youth and be certain that financial development turns into a shared journey towards a affluent future for all residents of Imo State.
The Imo Constitution of Fairness introduces a mannequin of rotational governance from Orlu to Owerri. What particular measures do you consider are vital to make sure that this rotation interprets into significant growth slightly than being merely a symbolic gesture?
To make sure that rotational governance below the Imo Constitution of Fairness delivers actual, measurable progress slightly than serving as a symbolic gesture, we should implement a number of concrete measures. First, we want a sturdy, clear coverage framework that outlines particular, quantifiable developmental benchmarks for every administration. This framework ought to embrace targets for financial development, infrastructure growth, and social welfare packages that each chief is accountable for, no matter their time period.
Second, establishing an impartial oversight committee to watch progress and implement accountability is important. This physique would repeatedly consider efficiency in opposition to the set benchmarks and supply clear stories to the general public.
Third, it’s crucial to construct capability amongst incoming leaders by complete coaching and mentorship packages, making certain they’re totally ready to handle the complexities of governance from day one. Moreover, creating cross-zone advisory councils would foster collaboration among the many geopolitical zones—Owerri, Okigwe, and Orlu—making certain a seamless switch of institutional information and greatest practices.
These measures, mixed with common efficiency evaluations and citizen engagement, will rework rotational governance right into a dynamic engine for sustainable, equitable growth in Imo State.
Critics argue that political rotation would possibly disrupt continuity in policy-making. How do you reply to those considerations and what safeguards would you implement to keep up stability and constant progress throughout such transitions?
Political rotation, when executed thoughtfully, doesn’t inherently disrupt coverage continuity however slightly rejuvenates it. Critics fear that rotating management would possibly result in frequent adjustments in coverage path, but I consider that such a system, if designed with strong institutional safeguards, can guarantee stability. One key safeguard is the event of a complete coverage framework that transcends particular person tenures. This framework would enshrine core developmental objectives and ideas—reminiscent of sustainable financial development, equitable useful resource distribution, and youth empowerment assuring that every successive chief adheres to a constant long-term imaginative and prescient.
Furthermore, the formation of advisory councils composed of skilled professionals from various sectors can guarantee continuity throughout transitions. These councils would function guardians of institutional information, offering steering to new management and making certain sustained progress no matter administrative adjustments. Moreover, clear efficiency metrics and accountability mechanisms might be put in place. This may allow stakeholders to watch progress and make knowledgeable choices, lowering the probability of disruptions.
Political rotation, when managed with foresight and a deep dedication to shared aims, has the potential to inject recent concepts into governance with out sacrificing stability. It provides a possibility for various views to form insurance policies and handle the multifaceted challenges we face in Imo State. Realistically, this technique is designed not as a radical departure from continuity, however as a way to harness new power whereas preserving the important components of our growth agenda.
Seeking to the long run, if an Owerri native have been to be elected governor, what concrete steps would you’re taking—drawing from each your online business expertise and conventional management values—to foster a system of governance that’s each inclusive and geared towards complete growth for all geopolitical zones in Imo State?
If an Owerri native assumes the governorship, my strategy can be to implement a governance mannequin that’s each inclusive and geared towards complete growth throughout all our geopolitical zones. At the start, I might set up a multi-stakeholder advisory council—drawing members from Owerri, Okigwe, and Orlu—to make sure that each resolution displays the various wants and aspirations of our individuals. This council would act as a bridge between the federal government and native communities, making certain that insurance policies will not be developed in isolation however are rooted within the lived realities of our residents.
Leveraging my worldwide enterprise expertise, I might drive initiatives that foster public-private partnerships to stimulate native financial development. This implies creating innovation hubs and entrepreneurial incubators, notably in areas the place youth unemployment is most acute. By channeling investments into expertise growth and technology-driven tasks, we will rework challenges into alternatives. I envision launching packages that present micro-loans and mentorship for native startups, thereby empowering our youth to develop into job creators.
On the similar time, my dedication to conventional management values will be certain that cultural heritage and neighborhood cohesion stay on the forefront. I might work intently with conventional rulers and neighborhood leaders to craft insurance policies that honor our customs whereas embracing trendy governance practices. This twin strategy will assist construct a resilient, participatory framework the place each zone not solely contributes to but additionally advantages from our state’s growth agenda.
By fostering transparency, accountability, and mutual respect, we will set up an efficient governance mannequin that serves one of the best pursuits of all residents of Imo State.
Thanks, Chief Ekeh, for becoming a member of us right now and on your candid, insightful responses. Your imaginative and prescient for Imo State and your dedication to making sure that each citizen’s voice is heard really encourage us all. Earlier than we wrap up, may you please share your ultimate ideas with our viewers?
Thanks for having me. As we glance to the long run, I firmly consider that real management should bridge our cherished traditions with progressive methods that meet right now’s challenges. My hope is that by nurturing native expertise, fostering inclusive dialogue, and upholding the values that outline our neighborhood, we will create a governance mannequin that serves each nook of Imo State. I stay dedicated to advancing equitable growth and empowering our individuals, as a result of when every particular person is given the chance to thrive, our state as an entire rises. Collectively, let’s construct a future outlined by progress, justice, and unity.
