Umunnem, we are indeed in a better place today. Everything seems to be working in our favour.

We have shaken off the dark days of violent armed robbery, kidnapping, child trafficking and bloody shootouts between rival gangs. We have made bold efforts to bring our illustrious sons and daughters together on the altar of brotherhood. The Stakeholders’ Sessions that we held in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt in recent times have shown me that Ndi Anambra outside our homeland are ready and willing to play their own role in the on-going effort to build a better state. Ndi Anambra we are indeed in a better place today!

As a government, we know what our people expect from us and we are not relenting on our efforts to surpass the expectations of Ndi Anambra. One of the significant things we have done in recent times to help build our domestic capacity is the announcement of an Economic Stimulus Package to cushion the effects of the current Recession on our people. I am told for instance that the Special Community Choose-a-Project initiative has been widely commended by Nigerians as an administrative masterstroke. Under this initiative, every community in Anambra State is expected to choose a project that will cost my administration N20m to execute.

We decided to adopt such a Bottom-Up model of development in order to give our people the freedom to decide what is more important to them.  We also did it in order to touch families more directly, since each community is given a free hand to choose labourers and other artisans that will execute the projects. We have already flagged off construction of over a dozen such projects. We have also effectively disbursed the sum of N1.5bn to small and medium scale enterprises in the state to stimulate local productivity.

Another major effort we have made in recent times to change our story in Anambra State is the tour of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo of some industries in Anambra State. During his tour, Prof. Osibanjo gave assurances to our industrialists that I know can only lead to great things. We also received the same assurances from the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe and the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele when they visited. All these visits and assurances tell me that Anambra is in a better place today!

Fellow citizens, I am told that the theme for this Fair is “To harness Anambra’s Natural Resources for Non-oil Exports as a World Class Trade Hub.” That is a very significant theme in view of the fact that our dear state has actually made history with the export of agricultural produce to the UK earlier in the year. Indeed, I have no doubt that when we organize ourselves well, Anambra State should be able to make an impact in the export business. Stine Industries Limited, makers of the popular Anambra Rice, represents a clear promise in that direction. Almost every exhibitor here can join the export business and bring honour to Anambra State and to Nigeria.

Ndi Anambra, what more can I say? We have created the enabling environment. We have empowered a good number of our people. We can only hope for the better. And sincerely, under my watch, Anambra State has no choice than to be better.
It is on this note that I formally declare this maiden edition of the Anambra Trade Fair open!

Thank you
Chief Willie Obiano
Governor

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