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Enugu Government, An Embodiment Of Good Governance

Published

6 years ago

August 12, 2020

By Jeff Ejiofor

The current Enugu state government possesses all the features of good governance by virture of its unequalled democratic credentials as evidenced in its policies and mode of operation. Undoubtedly, considering the standard definition of good governance, the administration of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is a complete epitome of what it represents. The governor has been able to embody quality governance through his style of leadership when properly weighed side by side with his contemporaries in Nigeria.

Accordingly, governance is the process of decision making and the process by which decisions are implemented or not. Particularly, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, defines good governance as an essential complement to sound economic policies central to creating and sustaining an environment which fosters strong and equitable development. It is also defined as a way of measuring how public institutions conduct and manage public affairs and resources respectively.

Good governance thus has eight major principles and characteristics. It is participatory, transparent, consensus oriented, accountable, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and follows the rule of law.

Sequel to the above insights on what good governance represents, the current administration of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state apparently epitomises it in all ramiffications and unequivocally qualifies to be ascribed as such. In order of sequence, may I intrinsically highlight the major principles of good governance as they relate to his government as follows for Nigerians to judge.

1, Partispatory governance is a major characteristics of Ugwuanyi’s administration which involves stakeholders in all major decisions of his government. He is the only governor that seeks the consent of local government stakeholders before appointing commissioners. He consults widely and allows the people to choose who to appoint into his cabinet and even his enemies cannot deny that.

2, Transparency is the hallmark of Ugwuanyi’s government through his consultative democracy where policy implementation is subjected to public debate and scrutiny. For example, he graciously sought the consent and opinion of community leaders before releasing money to them for the implementation of the 10 million naira one community one project policy in all the 471 autonomous communities of Enugu state. Enugu people in all honesty cannot deny this.

3, Consensus oriented governance is indeed the strength of Enugu government under Gov. Ugwuanyi and nobody will accuse him of anything like unilateral decision making. His quest for consensus in all his actions has made some undemocratic elements raise eyebrows about his leadership style. It is a well known fact that imposition of candidates seen in other places is alien to Enugu state. Even local government charmanship candidates usually emerge at the instance of the people through consensus without government interference.

4, Accountability is a direct product of transparent and participatory leadership which Ugwuanyi’s administration is undisputably known for. People’s opinions have always determined the direction of most of his policies. For example, he instituted a policy of one local government two projects worth 250 million naira in each of the 17 LGAs of the state and transparently allowed the citizens to make choice of preferred projects according to their comparative advantages. He also instructed the LG chairmen to ensure accountability in its implementation.

5, Rensponsiveness is a major aspect of Ugwuanyi’s government. His decision to end the unwarranted molestation of innocent motorists and Enugu citizens by agencies of government such as MOT and ESWAMA in his first two years in office is a clear evidence. He responded to the cries of the people and put a stop to that era of terror. He also promptly implemented the national minimum wage in response to the yearnings of Enugu workers.

6, Effective and effecient discharge of duties has become the strength of Ugwuanyi’s government leading to several feats as rated by many independent bodies. Good examples were the rating of Enugu state as second most condusive state in the ease of doing business in Nigeria and as well, one of the 10 most solvent states in the country by both local and international rating agencies. The records are obvious and clear for all to see.

7, Equitability and inclusiveness by the current Enugu government is not in doubt. As a matter of fact, no administration in the history of Enugu state has pursued policy of even distribution of projects and resources like Ugwuanyi’s government. He has been able to live above premodial sentiment in his choice of appointments and project distribution. This quality made him to be the first modern Enugu governor to appoint both chief of staff and secretary to the state government from zones other than his own. Siting of a critical infrastructure like Enugu State University of Education in Ihe, Awgu, another zone is a reflection of his detribalized nature. Ugwuanyi has also balanced his approach to governance by running an all inclusive policy. He never concentrated his policies on one sector of the economy unlike those who for instance face only infrastructure to the exclusion of other critical areas. Gburugburu’s regime is clearly all encompassing and it touches all aspects of governance which ranges from infrastructural provision, human capital development, welfare and wellbeing of citizens through good pay packages and empowernment programmes, security of lives and property to economic reinvigoration of the state.

8, Adherence to the rule of law is the hallmark of Ugwuanyi’s government. This is the only democratic governor east of the niger that accommodates all shades of opinion including the ones detrimental to his image. His government appears to be the only one that guarantees absolute press freedom and separation of power. Ugwuanyi has never been in conflict with either of the two other organs of government, legislature or judiciary. He has always given them free hand to operate within the ambit of the rule of law.

In conclusion, no discerning mind will be left in doubt as for the reason the policy actions of Enugu state government under the able leadership of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi can be best described as good governance. Arguably, no governor in contemprary Nigeria possesses equal leadership qualities as espoused herein.

Enugu is indeed in the hands of God!

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Business

Turning Africa’s Raw Materials Into Wealth: The ARMS 2026 Industrial Agenda

Published

3 days ago

September 29, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

For decades, Africa’s vast natural resources have powered industries and economies far beyond the continent, while many African countries have remained largely exporters of unprocessed commodities and importers of finished products.

That familiar pattern is now coming under renewed scrutiny as policymakers, researchers, investors and industrialists seek to change the direction of Africa’s resource economy.

At the centre of that conversation is the second edition of the Africa Raw Materials Summit (ARMS 2026), scheduled for October 19 and 20 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, under the theme: “From African Feedstock to African Factories.”

Organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the summit is being positioned as more than another gathering of policymakers and industry stakeholders. It is intended to provide a platform for confronting the structural challenges that have kept African raw materials largely disconnected from local manufacturing.

Africa has for years operated largely within a “pit-to-port” economic model, exporting raw materials while importing expensive finished products.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the summit on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, said the event would bring together policymakers, investors, researchers, technology providers and industrialists to develop practical strategies for transforming Africa’s abundant natural resources into industrial wealth.

The challenge, therefore, is not simply the abundance of resources, but the continent’s ability to transform those resources into industrial value, employment, technology and wealth within Africa.

Nigeria alone, according to the RMRDC, has more than $582.4 billion in documented non-renewable natural resources, while the wider continent possesses substantial deposits of critical minerals, agricultural raw materials and industrial feedstock.

Yet, the benefits of this resource endowment have often been constrained by inadequate processing capacity, weak infrastructure, limited technology, financing gaps and fragmented regional value chains.

From Dialogue to Industrial Action

ARMS 2026 builds on the maiden edition held in May 2025, which attracted more than 1,000 delegates from across the world.

The inaugural summit also witnessed the unveiling of the Ten-Year Raw Materials Transformation Roadmap (2025–2034) by the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owen Enoh.

The roadmap was designed around areas including technological capability, climate-resilient processing and backward integration, establishing a policy framework for greater domestic utilisation of Africa’s raw materials.

The second edition is expected to move the conversation further by bringing policy, capital, technology and industrial stakeholders around practical mechanisms for turning raw materials into locally manufactured products.

One of the major proposals highlighted by the RMRDC is the 30 per cent Mandatory Value Addition Bill, which seeks to establish a statutory minimum level of value addition to Nigerian raw materials before export.

The Council says the proposed framework could support job creation, import substitution, foreign-exchange conservation and increased manufacturing contribution to the economy.

Building the Infrastructure for Value Addition

The industrial transformation envisaged by ARMS 2026 goes beyond legislation.

A major concern is the “missing middle” between where raw materials are produced and where factories are located.

Poor transportation networks, inadequate cold-chain facilities, weak rural roads, limited testing and certification infrastructure and border-related delays can make locally sourced materials more expensive and less competitive.

Consequently, logistics and infrastructure constitute one of the five principal pillars of the summit.

The objective is to develop more reliable corridors connecting farms and mines with processing centres and manufacturing facilities, thereby reducing losses and improving the movement of industrial inputs.

The Digital Dimension

Technology is also becoming an important part of the Council’s strategy.

The RMRDC says it has developed the Nigeria Integrated Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP), described as a digital repository containing information on feedstock deposits, specifications, production outputs and industrial absorption rates.

The Council has also highlighted its transition towards paperless operations and its certification as a Data Controller/Processor of Major Importance by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.

Such digital infrastructure could provide investors and manufacturers with better information about the availability and characteristics of raw materials while supporting more informed industrial planning.

Turning Waste Into Industrial Inputs

Another major component of ARMS 2026 is the proposed expansion of the circular economy.

The summit will examine how agricultural by-products, mine tailings, scrap metals and biomass can be recovered and reused as inputs for new production processes rather than being treated simply as waste.

The RMRDC argues that such an approach could lower raw-material costs while supporting more sustainable and climate-resilient manufacturing systems.

For Africa, where industrial expansion must increasingly balance economic development with environmental considerations, waste industrialisation could become an important part of the continent’s manufacturing conversation.

From National Production to African Value Chains

The African Continental Free Trade Area is another important element of the summit’s agenda.

The RMRDC sees AfCFTA as an opportunity to create regional value chains in which raw materials sourced in one African country can be processed and supplied to manufacturers in another.

Under such a model, Africa would move beyond simply exporting commodities to external markets and develop stronger internal networks for supplying chemicals, refined minerals, agricultural inputs and other industrial materials across national borders.

This approach places regional integration at the heart of Africa’s industrialisation strategy.

Bridging Research and Capital

A recurring weakness in many developing economies is the gap between research and commercialisation.

Innovations may emerge from universities, research institutions and laboratories without receiving the financing, equipment or market connections required to become commercially viable.

ARMS 2026 intends to address that gap through technology commercialisation and capital linkages, connecting research outputs with investors, development finance institutions and industrial off-takers.

The RMRDC has also cited partnerships with the Bank of Industry for commercial-scale post-harvest processing and a South-South technology-transfer partnership with the National Innovation Centre par Excellence in Shanghai, China.

A Larger Industrial Conversation

The scale of ARMS 2026 is expected to be significantly larger than the maiden edition.

The organisers project more than 1,800 delegates from all 54 African countries and global industrial partners.

The programme will feature high-level policy dialogues, technical panels, an advanced raw materials and technology exhibition, industrial site visits and the African Raw Materials Industry Awards.

The exhibition, in particular, is expected to showcase locally fabricated processing machinery, advanced domestic materials, green chemicals and engineered commercial inputs.

Beyond the speeches and exhibitions, however, the real significance of ARMS 2026 will ultimately depend on what happens after the summit.

Africa’s challenge has never been a shortage of raw materials. The more difficult question has been how to transform those resources into factories, products, skilled employment, technology and sustainable economic opportunities.

For Nigeria and the rest of the continent, the proposed shift from “pit-to-port” to “feedstock-to-factory” therefore represents a broader debate about the future structure of African economies.

ARMS 2026 seeks to place that debate firmly on the industrial agenda — with value addition, technology, finance, infrastructure, circular production and regional trade at the centre.

If the commitments and partnerships generated by the summit translate into measurable industrial activity, the event could provide another platform for Africa to examine how its enormous resource base can support stronger domestic manufacturing.

The message from the organisers is clear: the continent’s raw materials should not only leave African soil as commodities; they should increasingly become the foundation for African industrial production

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