Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu Unveils New Initiative to Empower Genuine Young Ohafia LGA Entrepreneurs with a Special Seed Capital
At a special summit style meeting conveyed in his house in Abiriba, Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu, a renowned advocate for grassroots development in Ohafia LGA, unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to support genuine entrepreneurs from Nkporo, Ohafia, and Abiriba with a special seed capital.
The initiative aims to address Ohafia LGA’s high unemployment rates and infrastructure gaps, providing both financial backing and mentorship to 3 young business leaders from these communities. Kalu emphasized that while funding is vital, though abused in Nigerian politics, maintains that a broader approach is essential for sustained economic progress.
“By empowering genuine hard working and verifiable entrepreneurs with not only capital but also business training, he aims to create thriving enterprises that contribute to job creation and economic development in Ohafia LGA and beyond,” he noted.
His model has already received some favourable responses from numerous entrepreneurs across Nkporo, Ohafia, and Abiriba, as he consults. He is convinced that it will generate significant direct and indirect jobs. However, Kalu highlighted the importance of addressing larger systemic issues inhibiting business and industry growth in the area—such as electricity access, low purchasing power, and chronic seasonality of business operations, as the area is at best described as a Caribbean/Tourism Economy fuelled by generator economics.
During his Strategic consultative meeting, he called for strategic public-private partnerships to look into local economies such as Abiriba, Nkporo and Ohafia to foster supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly raising the purchasing power in rural areas like Ohafia LGA.
Recognizing the impact of diaspora remittances in promoting Ohafia LGA economic interests, Kalu affirmed, “Abiriba, Nkporo and Ohafia are brimming with potential. With the right investments and policies, we can turn our challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth.
Dr Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke writes from the University of Abuja Nigeria.
