By Maurice Okafor, Enugu
At last, there is hope of establishing Oji River town as an Urban area with viable economic and commercial activities that will add to the local, state and National economy.
The initiative of establishing an industrial park in parts of the Oji Forestry reserves, along Oji -Achi road have been signed and sealed,with the approval of Enugu state government,under Private,Public Partnership (PPP).
The Chairman of Aulic Nigeria ltd,Prof.Nick Ezeh, the initiator says that up to 500 multi national companies can be accommodated in the Industrial Park. He is optimistic that Oji Industrial Park can turn out to be another ‘Silicon Valley”. Silicon Valley is an industrial layout in United States of America where several industries, manufacturing companies, agro allied factories,etc,are stationed, adding value to the economy of USA by providing job opportunities,skill acquisition and technical know how to millions of American residents.
At the flag off of the construction Red Arrows Industrial Complex, the foremost Investment company in the layout, on July 10, 2026, Prof.Nick Ezeh,assured the Oji Industrial Park will be another hub of economic activities, capable of generating gainful employment for Nigerian Youths
His words, “We want to change the status of Oji River from a junction town to an industrial area.Where we can provide jobs for our Youths. It has been my dream for over 15 years to develop Oji River into an industrial park.
“It is going to be our own Silicon Valley. We shall develop Oji River as an industrial Complex like is obtained in China,United States of America and many othwr civilised countries.It is a call for every Igbo man to think home,” Prof.Ezeh explained.
Checks reveals that the chances of replicating what is obtained in Silicon Valley,USA,in Oji River Industrial Park,Enugu state is possible based on the accessibility of Oji town to Enugu metropolis with envisaged International airport and Onitsha in Anambra state, which is the largest, commercial market in West Africa.
Again, the potentials of the river on it’s natural course beside Oji Industrial Park can be harnessed as a regular source of water for manufacturing firms, agro allied industries, irrigation for mechanised farm lands within the Industrial Park,etc
From all indications, the coming of Oji Industrial Park raises hope of re – inventing Oji River town into a viable township contributing to local and national economic growth.
OJI River was once known in the global map as one of the major source of electric power generation in the defunct Eastern region. The existence of the Oji Power station with it’s economy of scale gingered socio economic development of Oji River town but dearth of Industries is currently the bane of the town.
Oji River was declared an urban area as far back as 1976 but there has been no meaningful project or establishment by the state government in the town to ginger economic and commercial activities in the town.
Instead, the facilities and institutions existing before the Nigerian Civil wars continued to deteriorate due to abandonment and negligence,amidst the fact that they are the pertinent needs of the residents, other towns that make Oji River local government area and the neighbouring communities.
Instances, It is very disheartening to note that the natural water bore hole with very high pumping pressure known as ‘Wonderful water’ is no longer reticulated to various parts of Oji town or nearby towns.
The Oji General Hospital that lived up to a specialist hospital and welcomed patients from distant towns like Awka and Amawbia in Anambra state is currently in comatose.
The School of Health Technology converted to Enugu State College of Health Technology operates with deteriorated physical structures and equipment. The Federal Tanery, a special department of the federal ministry of Agriculture,located in Oji town is completely shut down. It has been a futile attempt to note if there’s any hope of federal government’s intervention to revitalize Federal Tanery,a department of the Federal ministry of Agriculture, located in Oji town.
The vision of turning part of Oji River Forest Reserves into an Industrial Park, initiated by Prof.Nick Ezeh, is seemingly the viable alternative for re- inventing Oji River town into an established Urban area, opening up it’s rural communities and paving way for the numerous untapped potentials and natural deposits in those communities to harnessed.
According to Prof.Nick Ezeh, the Oji Industrial Park is designed to generate it’s own power and water that will serve conglomerate of companies located in it. Quality medical centers,relaxation and hospitality industries are inclusive.
The avalanche of multi national companies that will be attracted to invest in Oji River Industrial Park will create job opportunities for both skilled and unskilled unemployed Nigerian youth and stimulate rural development.
There is also the advantage of sourcing local raw materials needed by the manufacturing companies from the local markets thereby enhancing the economy of the rural dwellers, the local suppliers and distributors involved in the value chain.
The dream of Oji River Industrial Park turning into reality as next Industrial zone in the South East, Nigeria, lies on the fact that it is being energized under Private,Public Partnership((PPP), with every sense of responsibility and committment to succeed.
At the moment, the Chairman of Aulic Nig.Ltd, Prof.Nick Ezeh is urging enterpreneurs from the South East zone and those in diaspora to avail themselves of the opportunities in Oji River Industrial Park to invest in the South East, in the collective interest of strenghtening be the economy of Igbo land, providing job opportunities for jobless Youths,thereby reducing the Jappa syndrome in the zone.
