The Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo in his quest to building a liveable and prosperous Anambra has said that urban regeneration remains at the heart of his agenda.
He made the remark while inaugurating members of the Anambra Urban Regeneration Council at the Government Lodge Amawbia.
The appointees of the Council include: Arc. Mike Okonkwo – Chairman; Ven. Barrister Amaechi Okwuosa – Vice Chairman; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi – Secretary; Arc. (Dr) Innocent Okpanum – Member; Engr. Marcel Ifejiofor – Member; Surveyor Lucky Ebuechukwu Ginigeme -Member
Others are Anayo Val Ezenwa – Member;
Engr. Godwin Anyaegbunam- Member; Legal Adviser to the Governor, Barr. Tochukwu Nweke – Member,; Arc. Ikemefuna Chinwuba – Member
Governor Soludo stated they have been appointed based on their various experiences, stressing that he believes a rebirth of a new Anambra will materialize that will benefit everyone
While further congratulating them, he affirmed that a full reference of the Anambra Urban Regeneration Council shall be made available to them.
“The Council shall perform seven basic responsibilities. One of them is advisory functions on how to design the models, breathe life to our city and a long-term plan on where we should be.
“Coordination functions in a consistent manner to develop how we do it. Anambra Urban Regeneration will be the Goethe council and clearing house.
“I will rely on you in many aspects of urban regeneration. Anambra must be liveable to work, be secured and entertained. We task this council to put all the missing puzzle together.
“You all come with major experiences, the Chairman of this council was a former MD of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) and Commissioner, Environment and Housing.
“We want all the entire reservoir of your experience to help us in our vision for an urban regeneration.”
The Governor while identifying each of their wealth of experience, applauded the Former Commissioner for works, Engr. Marcel Ifejiofor for having a vast knowledge of road networks in the State
He also emphasized on the need for Awka to look as a Capital City.
“Onitsha is total chaos. I was there on Saturday, I drove through Fegge and the conditions of the roads are terrible.
“We are reviewing planet project proposals, bus terminals, entertainment city at Agulu and motor parks.
“We have a responsibility to rescue our motor parks and give them a new face ndi Anambra would be proud of.
“We want our state to be clean and green. We want to manage traffic challenges. We are losing land as a result of gully erosion. We need planning ahead of population explosion and we must begin the job now.
“You are therefore called upon to help us think through. We are thinking of industrial cities, we need to put Anambra on the floor and try to see how we can reconfigure it to make a liveable and prosperous State.
“In our vision 2070, we made a point of where we are going in a structured form. With the knowledge and talent pooled in this team, I don’t think Anambra will ask for anything better.
“The span of responsibility on you is quite massive. This is a council that will work with lots of MDAs, performing coordination functions to make sure everyone is following the context of plan you shall choreograph with a transformation process and an end in sight.
“It pays to serve! The wealth of your skills, knowledge, talent and experience you are offering to ndi Anambra cannot be paid for
“We shall be having daily and weekly interactions because everywhere in Anambra, regeneration matters. We need you the experts to guide us for a better tomorrow and our future. With this team, Anambra will get it done,” Soludo concluded.
The Chairman, Arc. Mike Okonkwo describing Mr Governor as a “Millennial Game Changer” expressed their collective appreciation for a rare opportunity to serve ndi Anambra.
He said urban growth has produced urban slums in our cities and stressed on the need to follow a trajectory status quo that will transform urban cities in the state, aligned with Mr Governor’s contract with Ndi-Anambra and the disruptive change he is bringing to bear positively in all fronts
“A clear vision, design and deep expertise is needed to breathe life in urban regeneration. The impossible has to come into being.
“A bold transition must embrace a brave audacity. Solution is here and that must be visible in our work.
“Our focus remains on achieving the aims and objectives of urban regeneration.
“We will strive to make our cities more attractive to residents and investors, Posterity will be kind to you,” he said.
In attendance was the Speaker Anambra House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor, Deputy Speaker Anambra House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Pascal Agbodike, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Head of Service, Mrs Theodora Igwegbe, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Collins Nwabunwanne, Chief of Protocol, Chinedu Nwoye amongst others.
/Christian Aburime
