Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has extended an invitation to Enugu diaspora to explore the state’s abundant business and investment opportunities in health, agriculture and infrastructure.
The governor, who spoke during the Enugu Diaspora Homecoming held on Monday in Enugu, said his administration had put certain measures in place that would make investment to thrive.
Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, also added that the government was working very hard to make Enugu State investment destination of everyone in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Highlighting what what his administration was doing in education, climate change and agricultural sector, Mbah said they had launched security trust fund, adding that first set of drones had been launched to track criminality.
He explained that the government was focusing on climate investment as well as investing significantly by ensuring that transportation system aligned with their climate action plan in Enugu.
“Enugu State is the first sub-national that has an approved climate action plan supported by the Global Climate Fund. This is because we have designed a couple of opportunistic bankable projects that are climate friendly.
“So those of us that are in the diaspora space that have connections can work together with us to build a community of support for our infrastructure as Enugu State is ready,” Mbah said.
Assuring them of safety of their investments, Mbah said, “We are happy to announce that our forest guard has fully been equipped and will continue to recruit more people to go into the nooks and crannies of our forest to fish out the criminals and bring them to justice.
“Our government is very clear that investors will not come to Enugu if the state is not secured because investment goes to where there is peace.
“That’s why the government at the very beginning made security a very important assignment and will continue to do so”.
The State Commissioner for Health, Prof George Ugwu, on his part, said Mbah administration was revitalising and expanding healthcare from primary to tertiary.
He emphasised the need for Enugu diaspora to support the state health sector with the needed manpower and equipment in the health facilities.
Ugwu said that the diaspora can also assist in training and restraining of health personnel in Enugu as well as inclusion of more citizen into Enugu State Universal Health Insurance by registering them.
Dr Chinyere Agbayi, National President Enugu Association, USA and Co-Chair for Enugu Diaspora Organisation Homecoming, said they were back to Enugu because Enugu diasporans loved what Mbah was currently doing in terms of infrastructural development.
“He is actually an exceptional governor and the new face that he gave to Enugu State cannot be unmatched. So we are looking forward to working with him in 2026.
Agbayi assured the governor that Enugu diasporans were ready to invest and support him in whatever way to make Enugu State the best state in Nigeria.
She added that diasporan in USA was embarking on construction of a multi-purpose building that would house hospital, an event center and Information Technology that would help Enugu youth.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to Mbah on Diaspora Matters, Mrs Olangwa Ezekwu, explained that the event was organised to unite the Enugu diaspora.
Extolling the partnership between the state and the diaspora, Ezekwu said Enugu State was the first state in Nigeria to have diaspora desk officers across Council Areas.
“We want them to come together and partner with the Enugu State Government as we have provided an enabling environment for them to come in and invest,” she said.