Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has charged Ikwo elites to initiate projects and programmes that will have meaningful impact on the lives of their people, stressing the need for service, legacy and human capital development.
Nwifuru made the call on Friday at his office in Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki, when he received members of the Ikwo Elite Progressive Movement.
The governor said his administration was preparing to take another quantum leap in infrastructure and human capital development, while urging the group to work closely in pursuit of common objectives for the advancement of Ikwo and Ebonyi State.
He challenged the elites to distinguish themselves through proactive and decisive leadership, rather than being driven primarily by personal profit or praise.
“As an elite, you must be known for something serious, not just infrastructure.
“You must be known to be proactive, decisive, and knowing when to act. You must always be known for provision of service rather than being profit-driven.“Legacy and goodwill must characterise your group. At all times, you must strive for legacy as against praise singing,” he said.
Earlier, the National President of the Ikwo Elite Progressive Union, Dr. Christian Asaga Nwali, said the group had united around democratic ideals and was committed to supporting the governor’s people-oriented development agenda.
Nwali commended Nwifuru’s achievements in peace and security, particularly the provision of operational vehicles to security agencies and interventions that had helped restore peace in troubled communities.
He also highlighted the governor’s interventions in education, including the Aeronautic University in Ezza and the ICT University at Oferekpe Agbaja.
According to him, the administration’s scholarship programme had also benefited over 1,000 Ebonyians studying in Nigeria and Europe.
He further commended the government’s interventions in the health sector, including the provision of ambulances for emergency response, as well as infrastructure projects such as the VANCO flyover and rural roads across the state.
Nwali said the governor’s achievements across various sectors had earned him widespread support, adding that the group had mobilised support for his re-election in 2027.
“Because you are a Governor with a human heart, we are here to tell you that your election in 2027 is sacrosanct. We have aligned ourselves with your vision to ensure your election is seamless in Ikwo,” he said.
The member representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, said the union was established to promote the development of Ikwo Noyo.
Ogah pledged the group’s unalloyed support for the Nwifuru administration and its development agenda.
