By Elizabeth ADENUGA
The former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has
called on the three tiers of government in Nigeria to pay serious attention to
the development of the rural communities in the country.
Okonjo-Iweala made the call on Wednesday during the 12th bi-ennial home-coming
(Ejealo 2018) and N25 million fundraiser for the construction of a craft
centre at Umuda Isingwu in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia.
She said that no country in the world could develop without giving attention to
its rural communities.
She therefore urged Nigerians to go back to their communities, saying “this is
the only way we are going to develop the country.”
“It is not just from the federal level but we have to start from the grassroots
to support the people in the village.
“Everyone who belongs to a community has to help that community because the
beginning of development in a country lies in a community,” she said.
The former minister, who was honoured on the occasion for her meritorious
service to the community, expressed joy that her husband’s community recognised
her.
She prayed for peace to reign in Nigeria as it geared up for the general
elections, adding that God should see the nation through its difficult
political period.
She said: “We want peace in the country. We want things to go well. We want
lives to improve for the average Nigerians.
“We are praying that 2019 will bring good things for Nigerians.”
In an address of welcome, Mr Emmanuel Onwuegbu, the President-General of Umuda
Welfare Union, said “Ejealo Festival” was a period of stocktaking in terms of
the community’s socio-cultural development as a people.
Similarly, Mr Dimkpa Agbara, Chairman, Organising Committee, said the
fundraiser was meant to establish a skill acquisition centre to empower the
youths of the area economically.
Mr Hope Uwaga, a board member of the Abia State Oil Producing Area Development
Commission (ASOPADEC), also urged Nigerians to always identify with their
communities.
Uwaga advised political office seekers to “first of all be part of grassroots
development” by contributing their quota to the development of their communities.
Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Education, and Justice Amaobi Agbara,
Mrs Rita Okengwu, Justice of the Customary Court of Appeal in the state, were
also honoured at the event.
