Okpara being celebrated
Anyim, Chairman of the occasion
…He Was As Bulky In Frame As I Am, He Launched Himself Early At 39 In Politics As I did
By Benard Akoma
As the echoes of Dr. Michael Okpara leadership, then Premier of Eastern Region in the 60s continue to reverberate, Anyim Pius Anyim, former president of the Nigerian senate, says that the marvelous achievements of Dr. Michael Okpara had forced him to take a deep look into his activities that distinguished him while in active politics. Anyim said that he later discovered to his surprise that they share a lot of things in common.
In his opening remark as the chairman of the recently concluded Michael Okpara memorial lecture and Award ceremony, held at Yar’Adua center, Abuja, August 22, 2024, Anyim explained that he decided to imbibe Okpara ways of life the moment he discovered that they share a lot of features in common.
According to him, “I discovered, to my excitement, that there are very striking similarities between him and myself. He was as bulky in frame as I am. He was as tall as I am. He wore the same facial out look as I do. He launched into public life at the age of 39, the same age I became the President of the Senate.”
Anyim addressing the press
But Anyim noted that he also observed that what distinguished Okpara in politics was his pragmatism in leadership, saying, “Dr. M.I. Okpara was pragmatic in leadership, strategic in thinking and action, and selfless in his service to God and humanity.”
While encouraging others to emulate Okpara, he said, “I have committed to striving to model my life and principles after Dr. M. I. Okpara, saying, “it is my expectation that none of us gathered for Okpara event will leave here without committing to imbibing the spirit and examples of Dr. M. I. Okpara.”
For the qualities that stood Okpara out, Anyim said, “for all of us gathered here, including those joining virtually, and particularly the younger generations, it is important we know why we must celebrate the life and times of Dr. M. I. Okpara.” Asserting that Okpara leadership qualities were unique, he said, “I want to state and very confidently too that no Nigerian citizen east of the Niger has impacted Eastern Nigeria, positively, like Dr. M. I. Okpara.”
Anyim making his speech
Excerpts; “At 39 years, Dr. Okpara became the youngest Nigerian to become a Premier. Dr Okpara’s tenure was a reign of ideas and pragmatism. On the assumption of office, Dr. Okpara was confronted with the challenge of creating a future for Eastern Nigeria, which at the time was rural in every aspect of life. The challenge before him was how to impact and uplift the lives of the people so that they would, in the future, take control of their own economic wellbeing.”
“Dr. Okpara needed not just the support and collaboration of all the key stakeholders of his time but also their participation. In order to have a common platform for a take-off, Dr. Okpara commissioned the firm of Arthur D. Little (a management consultant) to develop a blueprint or growth plan (policy direction) for the development of Eastern Nigeria. The critical areas of focus of the growth plan were:
- Human capital development
- Industrialization
- Entrepreneurship
- Agriculture
- Infrastructure, etc.”
“The policy direction of Dr. Okpara, as shown in the areas of focus, was to stimulate economic activities in the entire region, attract participation of the private sector. The activities were structured in clusters so that the participants would leverage common facilities in training, infrastructure, and distribution to complement each other.
Under industrialization, he created industrial estates serviced with basic infrastructure such as water, power, roads, etc. The estates were specialized per cluster as follows:
Aba – light industries
Umuahia – Biotechnology
Emene – Steel and industrial automation
Nkalagu, Port Harcourt, and Calabar – cement and building materials
Trans-Amadi – heavy and light industries
Onitsha – to drive retail trading.”
Okpara being celebrated
“All the major economic hubs were provided with commercial support services like hotels, e.g, the Presidential Hotels Chain, housing estates, etc. In no distant time, the structured industrial clusters attracted multinationals who also leveraged the conducive business environment to invest in Eastern region, e.g Nigerian Breweries, Liver brothers, PZ industries, Micheline and Dunlop Tyres, etc. Investments from the indigenous entrepreneurs were also attracted, for example- Ugo Foams, Dr. Ekwueme set up an aluminium plant at Emene, etc.”
On agriculture, Dr. Okpara initiated the Farm Estate concept in Eastern Nigeria, e.g:
- Oil Palm Estates in Eket, Calaro, Elele, Ibiam , Nsadiop, etc;
- Rubber Estates in Elele, Etche, Amaeke Abam, Biakpam, Nko, Emeabiam, etc;
- Cocoa Estates in Umuahia, Arochukwu, Obienyi, Obubra, Bende, etc;
- Cashew plantations in Udi, Mbala, Akama-Oghe, Oji, Isuochi, Kingie, etc.
Dignitaries at the event
“Dr. Okpara’s vision to make agriculture one of the mainstays of the economy of the southeast region galvanized the people into agriculture and this had a huge impact on agricultural investments, revenue generation and employment creation.”
Dignitaries at the event
“Arising from the deliberate and pragmatic approach to development, the World Bank in 1964 reportedly acknowledged the economy of Eastern Nigeria as the fastest growing regional economy in the world.”
Anyim concluded saying “that it can be said that the magic that guaranteed the progress recorded under Dr. Okpara’s administration was purposeful and visionary leadership.”
Dignitaries at the event
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