Monarch moves to domesticate ‘OKOBI’, the new Imo business scheme of ‘One Kindred, One Business Initiative’

…Shows how to end hooliganism in Mbutu-Nweorie

One of the new monarchs in Imo State, Anthony Emeh, the Uboha 2 of Mbutu-Nweorie Autonomous Community of Aboh Mbaise LGA, has laid two foundations few months after his inauguration.

He gathered the low and the mighty across Nigeria to lay the foundation of his palace known as the ‘Palace of Grace’ as well as the economic foundation of in his community.

For the palace foundation, he chose Success Obioma Akagburuonye, a business success, estate developer, and a benefactor, to spearhead the project.

For the economic foundation, the Eze laid hands on ‘OKOBI’, the new scheme rolled out by Gov Hope Uzodinma of Imo State. OKOBI means ‘One Hundred, One Business Initiative’, which seeks to rally every 100 Imo citizens to a joint business through the cooperative system.

The OKOBI scheme has already attracted the National Economic Council which has toured the Imo Digital City, conveying FG’s adoption of the scheme for human capital development.

The National Economic Council (NEC) delegation which arrived Imo State in the week endorsed the Imo Digital City model as right for integrating technology with sustainable development goals.

The leader of delegation, Rukaiya Bashir El-Rufai, reaffirmed the NEC’s commitment to scaling such innovations nationwide.

Now, one of the Imo monarchs has decided to run with OKOBI to galvanize the economy of his rural community. To make the scheme acceptable by his people, the Eze brought the highly respected business tycoon who holds a high chieftaincy title conferred on him by Eze Emeh to kick-start both programme and project.

Speaking to BusinessDay at the end of the programme in his palace, Emeh revealed how he as an entrepreneur would adopt or domesticate OKOBI in Mbutu-Nweorie to ensure that there will be viable industries. He said he was already working out modalities on OKOBI because he is a member of Oke-Ovoro Ezuo Cooperative Society.

“I was a principal officer of the Cooperative before I resigned to become an Eze. And OKOBI, being one kindred, one project, there are lots of projects I have already itemized; it is just to activate them. We can cultivate ginger, bell pepper, and vegetables, because I export vegetables and ginger.”

The Eze said one kindred can cultivate other cash crops like palm oil so that they can queue into Gov Uzodinma’s OKOBI. “I really love the idea and my community will be fully involved because I love agriculture and I participate in agriculture. And, this is the farming season, when you cultivate you harvest and eat; if you didn’t cultivate, you will not eat. So, for that OKOBI, I am part and parcel of it; so will my community.”

Reminded that Mbutu-Nweorie as an Mbaise community does not have massive land to dream of commercial farming and attract the youths, he said: “We have arable land here. The only problem is that some of our people are not ready to embrace farming. They do not seem willing to work. So, we will start by attracting the youths back to farming, back to agriculture.”

The Eze mentioned one large farm zone that served for land army during the Civil War. “We have arable land at Uhu-Ubahi. Myself being trained in cashew nuts business, cashew nuts plantation from GIZ MOVE International Organisation from Germany, it is a German organisation. We can introduce such here. It is a cash crop and it will yield a lot of profit and dividends to the community and the state in general.”

He said he would want to replicate such a model in his community. “Yes, I want to replicate what I am doing as an entrepreneur in this community. And if it is replicated, you will see that people will be gainfully employed. Hooliganism will stop.

“Since our governor has already provided security for us here, hooliganism, pilfering, break-and-entry have reduced drastically. This is because what is on ground is now more than them.

“So, that will give us the chance to go inside the bush and cultivate. So I will like it to happen here, so our youths will join us in agriculture.”

Palace foundation ceremony:

On the palace foundation ceremony, the new Eze who succeeded the late Michael Opara, the Uboha 1, said; “I feel elated on the ceremony today at the Palace of Ubaoha 11 of Mbutu Nweorie. It is not by my making but only by the grace of God that this ceremony has happened today.

“The issue concerning this palace is by God’s grace because today is not ordinary. This is a testimony of my kingship. This is how God wants it and this is the first time a traditional ruler will see somebody that will come and build a palace, a befitting palace, a very big and large palace, for him. So I thank God for what happened today, and my cabinet members are happy.”

The Eze, once a politician and entrepreneur, listed ways he would adopt to ensure that Mbutu-Nweorie builds a strong economy and to ensure that commercial activities thrive.

He said: “Based on my experience when I was in politics, I am now a traditional ruler, a custodian of culture of my community, with wealth of experience I gathered in issues concerning politics, I will handle cases with justice and thus bring peace and progress to Mbutu-Nweorie in Aboh Mbaise.”

Being an entrepreneur, he said he would not fold his hands and let his company fold up. “I will work hard to make sure that my company progresses and employs more people because I am an employer of labour. I will ensure that we expand our coast.”

The accountant and stock broker by profession said he is also an exporter, all due to diversification. “I export food items across the African coast and by the grace of God, my company is doing well.”