1000 Anambra billionaires to fund $1b investment

By Madu Obi

AN Anambra businessman and philanthropist, Chief Ikenna Okafor has promised to mobilize 1000 Anambra billionaires to invest $1billion for the purpose of shoring up the economy of the state.

Okafor, who spoke after receiving an award of honorary degree of Doctor of Entrepreneurial Innovation at a special convocation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said the people of the state have the capacity to achieve it within a short time.

According to him, the proposed investments would guarantee generational wealth for indigent people in the state.

Okafor, who is the Managing Director of Keves Global Leasing Limited, an oil and gas company, said this is the time for those who have the resources to show concern about the suffering masses.

He said: “Anambra is blessed with many billionaires but unfortunately we have been using our money in places they are not felt. There are things we will do and they will never be forgotten.

“I want to challenge 1,000 Anambra billionaires to bring $1million each to invest in things that will bring about generational wealth for our people. Let’s not waste our money in drinking champagne alone. I will champion the cause."

He urged people to shun ostentatious lifestyle at a time like this and conserve resources to help the less privileged in the society.

In his speech, the Chancellor of the university, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, the Gbong Gwom Jos, who declared the special convocation open, congratulated the awardee, noting that it was a merited honour.

"This honour by this university of all times is a call to even do more.

I also seize this opportunity to urge the Vice Chancellor to keep up with the admirable tempo of his administration as his tenure winds down and I equally enjoin the university community to continue to give him the commendable cooperation, " the Royal Father added.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Charles Esimone, said the choice of Ikenna Okafor for the award was premised on his numerous philanthropic gestures, particularly in the area of education, where he had supported primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria and beyond with infrastructure.

He recalled that Okafor singlehandedly funded the building of the ultramodern UNIZIK Business School and other projects in the university.

He also said that Okafor sponsored the sports team of UNIZIK during the recently concluded South East Universities Game in which the university excelled.