Marketing is an aspect of economic activities of the human society. As a critical driver for stable economy, marketing has had a fair share in institutional and government attention.
Gov.Ugwuanyi led administration as part of his developmental agenda for Ndi Enugu has been committed to financing and upliftment of the existing market and building of new ones across the state to engender even economic growth of the people and the State in general.
In the realization of the economic potential which marketing holds for societal growth, governor Ugwuanyi was moved to compassion when the foremost Maryland Timbershed Market Enugu, was engulfed in an inferno and the traders who had humongous investments in the timber trade was massively affected. It could not be denied that people’s lives are largely dependent on their investments and when such investments are threatened in any way such as the one that befell the traders at the Maryland market, the feeling of loss and frustration is better imagined than experienced. But the people’s governor did not abandon the traders to their fate. While they bemoaned their fate, they would equally not be able to forget in a hurry how the state government under Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi rallied to support and encourage them to mitigate their losses.
The conflagration which destroyed goods worth millions of Naira, drew the attention of the workaholic leader, who swiftly arrived the scene of the incident in the company of the rapid response team of the Enugu State Fire Service and who had earlier before the arrival of Governor contained the fire from escalating beyond the already damaged sections.The compassionate Governor did not only commiserate with the victims of the inferno, but restituted for their unfortunate losses. To further mitigate the losses of the traders,
Gov.Ugwuanyi, further approved for an immediate rebuilding of all the affected infrastructures in the market. Recall that, Ndemde bridge that links the timber market and Achara Layout, Enugu as well as the Lomalinda-Timber Market road, was constructed by the administration of Gov.Ugwuanyi.
Under the leadership of Gov.Ugwuanyi, Enugu State Fire Service in collaboration with Federal Fire Service and other Emergency Management Agencies of the government, conducted in major markets across the state, a free sensitization programme on causes and prevention of fire accident.
In line with his administration’s resolve to ensure a disease free and hygienic market environment, Gov.Ugwuanyi gave an approval for the construction of modern abattoirs across the markets in the state to upscale the meat selling outlets and additionally made provision for the purchase and reticulation of blast freezers and mobile cooling vans. Through his visionary leadership, more veterinary control posts were erected and equipped with modern inspection facilities to examine diseased/infected livestock.
Gov Ugwuanyi is the first governor to start traders’ empowerment scheme in Nigeria. A micro-credit scheme,which lasted for six months, offered traders in Ogbete Market, an ample opportunity to borrow funds up to N500,000 interest-free.
Gov.Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, through the Enugu State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, had sometime ago supported small scale businesses in Enugu by approving funds worth millions of naira. The exercise tagged”Enugu State Traders Empowerment Scheme”, is a transparent/open ballot process where the traders are required to pick a raffle ticket from a ballot box. At the end of the raffle draw, winners are selected and handed over the sum of N50,000, each. The monthly exercise which was conducted in all the 35 markets across the state, brought soccour to the majority of poor market men and women.
It is little wonder then, that Enugu State, which came 27th position in 2014 World Bank’s Rating on the ease of doing business in the country, has today according to the current rating moved up to the no two position.
The string of successes recorded in the healthy economic growth could be attributed to the excellent relationship between the government and the traders in the state. Today, Enugu State has become an investment destination for all categories of traders irrespective of ethnic inclinations. On many occasions, Gov. Ugwuanyi had waded unbiasedly, into crises which rocked Market Union leadership of various major markets in Enugu and subsequently brokered peace among them.
Yet another legacy impact of the government to engender healthy living of the people of Ndi Enugu, is the relocation of perishable food crops and vegetables at the section of Akwata axis in the popular Ogbete Market and approval for the relocation of the new Artisan Market Enugu just so that the original owners of the market land could take possession of their land. Other legacy strides in market development in Enugu state include the construction of infrastructures at various markets across the state such as in Orie Mba Market, Ogbete Market, Maryland Timber Shed Market, Ogige Market in Nsukka LGA, Eke Ozi Market, Igboeze North LGA, Ekeani Market Ngwo, Udi LGA, Orie Emene, Enugu East LGA, Nkwo Market, Ibagwa in Igboeze South LGA etc. Other benefiting markets are, Afor Market, Iwollo Ezeagu LGA, Orie Market, Awgu LGA, Rice Mill Market, Adani in Uzo Uwani LGA, Aria Market, Enugu North and Obollo Afor Market in Udenu LGA etc.
The good works of Gov. Ugwuanyi have become a major reference point, which should be critically articulated by all aspiring leaders in Enugu State. We pray that Enugu state remains in the hands of God Almighty now and beyond.
Bibian Anekwe News.. added…Humility is throwing oneself away in complete concentration on something or someone else.
Written by
Gibson Uchenna Ilozuru
(Political Analyst)
Media Team Member: Enugu di n’akachukwu movement
