By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Golden Organisation for Accountability in Leadership and Development (GOLD), on Monday, unveiled plans to drive socioeconomic development of South-East geo-political zone through skilled-based Science and Technical education.
GOLD, a pathfinder comprising people from all walks of lives with shared common objectives and goals, also vowed to hold the government accountable, promote good governance while mobilising resources towards addressing the leadership problems in the region and Nigeria at large.
Chairman of the organisation and former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Anambra State chapter boss, Dr Anthony Ugozor, who disclosed this after a meeting with the National Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Okey Nwosu, held at Awka, Anambra State capital, marshalled out plans and actions.
Ugozor, who is also the State Chairman of Pensioners, said the group have been meeting for over six months, announced that they have launched into action with a proposal for establishment of three International universities in Anambra State within one year as a gateway to promote, export local contents as well as drive foreign investments.
According to him, the universities while immortalising the founder of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Prince Arthur Eze, who is an oil magnate, and the Traditional Ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, would put to an end to brain drain, including japa or overseas traveling in search of greener pastures.
The proposed universities including Innoson University of Technology and Robotics, Prince Arthur Eze University of Management and Legal Studies, and Alfred Achebe African University of Culture and International Studies, would explore and incorporate the African creative ingenuity, skills and innovation in automobile industry, among others.
Also speaking, a member of the group, Chief Okey Nwosu, explained that investment into skilled based education would provide enabling environment for people with various skills without formal education to develop and utilise them in producing what would be further exported to other countries.
The universities, according to him, would also attract scholars and students across the world, open opportunities for businesses and individuals to amass wealth through leisures, tourism, research and innovation, among others.
"Our vision is that within the next 5 years, we will showcase the true light Anambra State is known for. We wish to extend to all parts of Nigeria, starting from South-East. We have stakeholders across disciplines and ethnic nationalities. We have the resources to guide government to work. Government is not maximising what we have," he added.