Chief Afam Ogene, the member of the National Assembly for the Ogbaru Federal Constituency, encouraged the state government to create a master plan for Ogbaru’s development.

He emphasized that Ogbaru is the state’s industrial, oil and gas, and agricultural belt, but that the administration has mostly ignored it.

In an address at the 2024 Ogbaru Economic Summit with the topic “Driving Sustainable Economic Development in Ogbaru: Our Road to Prosperity,” eleven think tank committees covering various developmental fields were established.

Before the next summit, which is scheduled for 2025, he said the committee would compile, develop, and put into practice the ideas that were created at the summit.

“These committees are headed by notable sons and daughters of the Local Government Area including Okpoko,” he said.

Among the many issues the area faces are inadequate roads, energy, schools, health care, insecurity, and human capacity development. The congressman asked the populace to use the summit to make deliberate efforts to save their land and uphold its values.

The fact that these progressives in Ogbaruland have banded together to discuss sustainable development, economic resurrection, and peaceful cohabitation in Ogbaru during a time when the region is engulfed in alarming news of crime and violence is truly encouraging.

“I support the initiative and urge its continuation as well as the development of workable solutions aimed at improving our country in a way that we can all be proud of.

Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, voiced worries about the setbacks that the residents of the state’s Ogbaru Local Government Area have been experiencing over the past several years as a result of decades of neglect and underdevelopment.

He acknowledged that there was still hope, saying that the unpleasant circumstances were more concerning in light of the town’s rich culture, resiliency, and unrealized potential.

He called the Summit a “dream come true” and an opportunity for the locals to rewrite their history by coming together and exchanging ideas for the town’s advancement.

He declared, “This summit is a vision that unites us all to address our economic challenges and pave the way for a prosperous future. It is a dream come true.”

“Ogbaru has a wealth of unrealized potential, perseverance, and culture. But because of underdevelopment and neglect, we have had far too many setbacks.

We now have the opportunity to rewrite our history by cooperating, exchanging ideas, and creating the Ogbaru of our desires.

“The summit offers us valuable platform to explore ways to stimulate growth in the area and shape our future.”

Ogbaru, according to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, is essential to the state’s economic growth.

In order to encourage investments, Soludo invited the public to support his administration’s Think Home Initiative through Commissioner for Budget Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake.

In her keynote address on the Summit’s subject, Senator Stella Oduah, a former minister of aviation, outlined tactics for promoting sustainable development in Ogbaru.

She urged the Ogbaru people to use these values to bring back the good old days, saying that they were a unique breed recognized for their contentment in the face of poverty.

“I’m passionate about Ogbaru and her affairs,” the woman declared. The typical Ogbaru person takes pride in their poverty yet being happy in it. Unfortunately, we are slowly losing that virtue.

“We need to enhance our specialness and brush it to be in tandem with global best practices.”

Speaking about Ogbaru’s investment potential, Dr. Mark Okoye, Managing Director of the Anambra State Investment, Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), commended the organizers for their initiative, stating that it aligned with Soludo’s efforts to promote decentralized development.

The conference, according to State House of Assembly member Noble Igwe, who represents Ogbaru Constituency One, was a crucial step toward realizing the zone’s enormous potential.

He was upbeat that the partnerships and ideas developed at the summit will give the people a better future.

Chief Franklin Nwadialo, the mayor of Ogbaru Local Government Area, stated that the summit provided a forum for discussing strategies for promoting sustainable development in critical domains including as agriculture, roads, healthcare, and education.

Prior to this, Omor’s traditional ruler and event chairman, Igwe Chris Oranu, advocated for the creation of a Security Trust Fund to improve security in Ogbaru.

The Ogbaru Economic Summit’s designer and planner, Ifeanyi Ochije, organizer of Social Media Fest (Smfest) Awka, emphasized the importance of repairing vital infrastructure in order to promote sustainable growth.

“Today offers yet another chance to capitalize on the potential of natural resources and human capital development, which will provide jobs for the region’s burgeoning youth population and promote economic progress.

“Hence the need to fix critical infrastructure that will stimulate sustainable development,” he said.