Ibeto urges Govt to pay attention to the real sector

Cletus Ibeto, chairman/chief executive officer, Ibeto Group, a foremost conglomerate in Nigeria, has advised the Federal Government to pay more attention to the real sector of the economy, which according to him holds the key to the country’s economic growth.
Ibeto, who made the appeal during his company’s special day, at the just concluded Aba International Trade Fair, attributed the country’s dwindling economy to its dependent on crude oil and advised that the real sector and other sectors of the economy apart from crude oil, should be given adequate attention.
The Chairman, Ibeto Group, who was excited about the fair, donated N5 million to the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), organisers of the fair, towards the construction of a permanent trade fair complex in Aba.

Anthony Enukeme, president, ACCIMA, earlier in his address, explained that the fair was organised to showcase goods and products manufactured in Nigeria.

These products include textiles, leather and allied goods, household products and appliances, cosmetics, plastic products, lubricants, foods and beverages, among other goods.

According to Enukeme, our aim is to convince Nigerians to patronise locally made products, instead of the imported ones.

It will also encourage Nigerian businessmen and women to export most of these products for foreign exchange earnings, local industrial expansion and employment generation.

“We believe that this is achievable hence the theme of the fair: “International trade fair, vehicle for regional and economic integration.”

He commended Ibeto Group for participation in the fair, saying that the firm’s presence did not only add colour to the event, but also helped to bring most of their products to the doorsteps of Aba consumers.
“As we the entrepreneurs synergize in our various industrial and commercial programmes, I believe that our little effort will help to improve our economy, which is dwindling in recent time, due to fall in crude oil price.
“This fair would have taken place in our permanent trade fair site, and this would have made it more pleasurable and aesthetic, but this was not feasible, as we were not able to realize our trade fair site project, which has been estimated to cost about N120 million, “ he explained.
He appealed to Ibeto to assist ACCIMA towards the realisation of the project, which according to him will go a long way in improving the country’s economy.