•Soludo has provided enabling environment for businesses to thrive in Anambra
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Chief Jude Nwankwo is the President General, Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, Anambra State. The youthful market leader, in this interview, spoke on his success secrets, challenges of business in Nigeria and why the traders are supporting Governor Soludo in the state.
Why do traders regard you as the most popular market leader in Anambra?
In market leadership, I’ve experienced both the good and the bad. On assumption of office, I met several cases both in court and with the police but I decided to start peace moves because there were factions in the market. We tried to unite those factions so that we can come together and develop the market. To the glory of God, it worked because all the court cases were withdrawn leading to the signing of a MoU authenticated at the Federal High Court and peace finally returned and has reigned supreme since then. I noticed that the saying in the Bible that where there is peace and love, there will be progress is true because since then, we have grown in leaps and bounds in prosperity. I can say today that I have almost 100 per cent support of the traders in the market and this has contributed to the progress and successes we have recorded. My administration has been able to build two markets, build first two residential estates for the traders shared accordingly without rancour or litigation. Unity and love has continued to prevail in our market to the extent that the election for my second tenure in office was just seamless, an affirmation of sort. Nobody contested against me and from there we have another two new estates, the biggest and highest developing estate in Anambra State. My tenure is supposed to have ended but they collectively agreed that I should continue. No one is aspiring to contest but I told them that I will step down because leadership involves tenure of offices but they have prevailed on me to stay for one extra year so that I can finish up some outstanding projects we are doing before I will hand over to a new leadership. Government is backing my extension of stay in office and they have given me a letter to that effect. As at today, we have shared over N3 billion naira to traders in this market over the years from the proceeds of our estate business. This is an uncommon grace that sometimes I marvel on how we’ve been able to do all we have done so far but we give God glory for the strength and inspiration.
You have made so much impact on leadership at a relatively young age. What can you say prepared or inspired you for this role?
I can say that it is a natural gift from God. It’s a natural thing but I think I have the ingredients that helped nurture me for success in leadership. You must have the heart to give and forgive, the heart to carry people along and be somebody that socialises with people without discrimination. I identify with both the low and the mighty in the society. It did not start today. That’s why as far back as when I was in secondary school, I was nicknamed Jollity which has stuck with me till today. If you check the meaning of jollity, you will see that it is a natural gift. I associate freely with people and I can tell you today that I don’t know and don’t have any enemy in life. If there is anybody fighting me today, I don’t know or recognise such in my life. In all, I still say that all that we are is by the grace of God that inspires me, moves me forward and wherever He pushes me, I will go.
Let’s talk about ease of doing business. Is the apprenticeship system of grooming one and settling him after a number of years still sustainable today?
Yes, it is still in vogue and here we regulate such system in such a way that we don’t give room for abuse either from the master exploiting the apprentice without settlement for years or the apprentice taking advantage of his position to steal the master’s money. We frown on any form of abuse and we have open channels of dialogue to settle such differences and this has helped in promoting that scheme here. Apprenticeship remains the greatest talent of the Igbo businessmen which we won’t allow to die. No one can grow a successful business without the support of an apprentice or apprentices. That’s why that system needs to be nurtured continuously. As we are talking now, people are being settled after completing their apprenticeship while new intakes also come on board every now and then. As for the ease of doing business, I think it is flowing despite challenges but we praise the Soludo administration for creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state through the provision of access roads and security. Customers are now coming into the state and we can easily move our goods into the state and offload them successfully because of access roads unlike before where we record so many losses because the vehicle, the big Lorries fall owing to the deplorable condition of the roads. Our only challenge is the fluctuation of the exchange rates and multiple bank charges on transactions.
Why is it difficult for many Onitsha and Anambra traders and importers to transit into industrialisation?
In Anambra State, greater majority are traders and many have not transited to manufacturing and building industries. It is a fact that the country cannot develop much when it is dependent on importation instead of production while unemployment cannot be addressed without industrialisation. But I tell you the truth – the problem lies with the government. Failure of the government to provide power, energy is the root cause of the problem. If the industrialist relies on diesel and alternative power to produce, the person cannot go far. If the government can provide reliable, steady power supply, there will be big boost in industrialisation in Nigeria. Again, government must be committed in providing grants to industrialists and not this politicisation that they do in such programmes. In Onitsha also, the absence of a functional seaport is a big barrier to industrialisation. You cannot bring raw materials depending on Lagos and the vehicle will come down to the east after clearing in Lagos and you expect such sector to boom here under those bottlenecks and stringent conditions. You pass through almost 1000 custom and police check points on the road before you get to your destination. If you look at the statistics you find out that most companies that get into manufacturing are forced to shut down after few years because of these frustrations in the system. Government must do something in this regard.
The Soludo administration is being accused of imposing multiple taxation on the people and unleashing various task force units on the traders. How does this impact on the relationship with the government and the people?
The truth is that it was this same government that actually flushed out many touts and undesirable elements harassing people on the road. If you go on the road nowadays, you don’t see cases of breaking of side mirrors and vehicle windshields by the various agberos like it used to be. The market is well organised and structured now and though we are actually paying higher taxes now, it is far much better and organised while the people can actually see the impact of their taxes on various government development projects. The reason why Nigerians don’t like paying taxes is because they don’t see tangible and visible projects where their tax monies are channelled into. But this present government of Soludo is working and people can see those projects and testify. If you move around different parts of the state, you can see various road projects including several dual-carriage ways which have not been done before springing up across several areas. From Agulu to Awka down to Onitsha, Okpoko and even here in Ogidi, the nearby Ugwunwasike road close to our market used to be totally impassable but the government has changed the situation now. Today if you visit Awka you see amusement park, new government house, hospitals and other facilities never seen before. Nurses are being employed likewise teachers and others. All these contribute to development and what it means is that people will feel happy to pay taxes when they see the impact being made. Before now, refuse dump was chasing people rising to mountain level in several parts of the state but you can’t see such ugly scenario again. If you go to Ochanja market before now, you cannot pass through because of dirt and refuse but the place has been cleaned up to the extent that we see a functional water fountain there now. If you see all these transformation taking place, you will be happy paying your taxes and that is what is happening in Anambra today. We encourage the governor to do more and when you also see that he has not borrowed money while doing all those projects, you will just be lifted in spirit.
They say that traders don’t vote during election days but choose to stay at home, drinking and making merry. What efforts are you people making as market leaders to change the trend?
The narrative is changing now. During the last election, we made arrangements to bring the INEC officials into the market to register the traders for them to obtain their voters cards. We have made similar arrangement this time with greater awareness now that the governorship election is around the corner. We have resolved that traders must get deeply involved in the electioneering process and determine who governs them. Without being told, you know that the traders are united in saying that Soludo should be re-elected for a second term in office and we are determined to make it work.
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