- Safiu Kehinde
Nigerian Vice President, Kashim Shettima, says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu holds the Ndigbos in high esteem.
Shettima made this known while speaking on Thursday at the unveiling of Clinic, Fashion, and Garment Hub in Enugu State.
The Vice President disclosed the establishment of the South East Development Commission was part of the Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of the Easterners.
“The President has a special place in his heart for the Ndigbos. This led to the passing of the South East Development Commission and the headquarters is here in Enugu.
He also recounted how Tinubu influenced the appointment of an Easterner as the Managing Director to the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, in an effort to champion the course of power generation in South East.
“Without power, let’s forget about industrialization. The President deliberately picked a daughter of the Southeast from Abia state, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, to champion the course of the lighting of the South East industrial process.
“This is how she emerged as the Managing Director if the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.” Shettima added.
Meanwhile, he lauded the effort of Enugu State governor, Peter Mba, for initiating the MSME Hub.
Citing India as an example, Shettima noted the rise in contribution of business ventures and entrepreneur to a country’s economic growth.
“The highest we have ever got from the export of oil was $35 billion dollars in 2011 when Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was the President of this country.
“India is expected to generate over $100 billion from business processing and outsourcing in this year alone. So the hub is promising.
“By 2035, India will have only one million job surplus. The opportunities are there. I want to join all of us here in thanking Peter Mba for taking charge of the opportunity that abound.
“Enugu is equivalent to Kaduna. It is equivalent to Ibadan.” Shettima added.