Unveiling The Man Of The Season In Ebonyi Politics-Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh (Immaculate) at 50

Featuring: ▪️Background and Education ▪️Business Career ▪️Family Life ▪️Leadership, Social Responsibilities & Empowerment Programmes ▪️Personal Qualities ▪️Ezeh's 3R Vision for Ebonyi: A People Focused 7-Points Agenda

Preamble The choice of who should lead has, from antiquity, proven to be the principal determinant of the destiny of peoples and nations. It requires accurate discernment, and leaves not room for shadowboxing, since nature has been configured to serve without sentiments the consequences of choices, right or wrong. We have seen deserts blossom in fertility and abundance on account of leadership; and so do we have before us many fertile fields of Africa turned barren on account of same. Yes! It is on the altar of leadership that nations rise or fall. One of the most strategic knowledge to which any people could come is the fact that the lengths, the breadths, the heights and the depths of the universe are subject to the law of times and seasons. Little wonder the biblical children of Issachar were noted to be men who always knew what Israel ought to do, because they were men that had a profound understanding of the times. While we draw closer to the valleys and crossroads of 2023 decision, Ebonyians must be applauded for having upheld useful debates, not minding the emotional pressures being mounted on them by the myriad of supposed guber aspirants who obviously began too early to disrupt the normal course of governance, thereby overheating the State’s polity with their desperations. This is a pointer to the people’s heightened political awareness and their considerable understanding of times vis-à-vis the type of leader needed at this stage of their journey towards socioeconomic stability. These useful debates have resolved basically around issues of equity and competence. While some Ebonyians initially singled out equity considerations to be the only relevant determinant of who should take up the state’s rudder of governance come 2023, others picked on the matter of competence as the only thing that should matter. As the debates advanced however, and given the complementary necessity for both political stability and socioeconomic progress, majority of Ebonyians came to realize the need for a prober harmony and balance between these two important pillars (of equity and of competence!). Hence while consensus has widely been reached for the emergence of the next Governor from Ebonyi-North Senatorial District of the state, there’s also a genuine clamor to have a capable hand therefrom. It was against the backdrop of the foregoing that Ebonyians, even across all political divides, went into wild jubilation upon the official declaration of interest by Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh to contest for the governorship of Ebonyi State on Tuesday February 22, 2022 during the Ebonyi State PDP expanded State Executive meeting held in Abakaliki. This bold step of his brought an instant shakeup in the dynamics of Ebonyi politics, given his intimidating profile, obvious competence, sense of preparedness and the technocratic background from which he surfaced. *Background and Education* Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, a native of Otsokpuru Village in Ndebor Ezzainyimegu Autonomous Community, Izzi LGA, Ebonyi State –Nigeria, was born on April 15, 1972. He is an Oxford trained entrepreneur and holds multiple Doctoral qualifications in diverse specializations, ranging from entrepreneurship and Innovation to Leadership and Global trade. These mind-blowing records and other sterling personal qualities have placed him far ahead of his contenders. The journey to his lofty academic cum intellectual height began at Omagba Primary School where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) before proceeding to Republic Secondary School, Enugu for his secondary education. Ezeh began his higher education at Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu from where he obtained a HND in Accountancy. He proceeded to the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he bagged a PGD in Accountancy and an MSc in Management (Operations Management) and, afterwards he proceeded to ESUT Business School where he got an MBA in Strategy and Lean Management. He also holds a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from UNN and has another Doctoral qualification from Enugu State University of Science and Technology - Enugu, particularly in Leadership and Economic Development (PhD in view). Dr Ezeh is among the few from Ebonyi State who boasts of the prestigious Owner Manager Programme (OMP) of the revered Lagos Business School (LBS). His passion for excellence in Leadership also spurred him to proceed for an advanced study on the subject at the Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL) Brussels Belgium; and still in his uncommon thirst for knowledge, he pressed further to the world’s foremost institution – the University of Oxford - England where he obtained, with distinction, a Specialist Degree in Organizational Leadership (GPOL). His research interests focuses on: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Organizational Leadership; Business Resilience and Agility; Prosperity Paradox and Governance issues of low-income countries; Regional Trade Policies with focus on African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA); and Human Development. *Business Career* Dr Ezeh is the Chairman and CEO of Immaculate Group of Companies with interests in Media, ICT, Renewable Energy and Agro entrepreneurship, etc. Immaculate Publications Limited (IPL), being the principal subsidiary of the Group, is unarguably the biggest Print-Media and Publishing company in the South-east-South-south Nigeria and about the third largest of its kind in the country. Although built from the scratch, IPL has remained the pacesetter in accuracy and speed, as well as in relevant Print-media technologies and solutions. In fact, the CTP Technology in the Southeast-Southsouth Nigeria was pioneered by the company. It is therefore worthy of note that Ezeh started his Print-Media and Publishing career from the lowest ebb and resiliently navigated his way to very top of the game. He has since spread his tentacles of exploits into other areas like ICT, Renewable Energy, Agro Entrepreneurship and International trade. *Family Life* Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh is happily married to Dr Chioma Jovita Ezeh with whom he has four children. Dr Chioma is a Qualified Accountant and holds a PhD in Human Resource Management. *Leadership, Social Responsibilities & EmpowermentProgrammes* Dr Ezeh is not just well educated on the subject of leadership, but has a robust experience in it, ranging from corporate governance and Organized Private Sector (OPS) leadership to grassroot mobilization and community leadership. Under his creative, resilient and visionary corporate leadership for instance, people from across the nation (especially across different parts of Ebonyi State), including the deaf and dumb have found themselves built, groomed and refined into hyper-productive agents of the economy! Year in year out, he recruits young people into his apprenticeship and internship programme where they are trained in different aspects of Print-media technologies and solutions. While undergoing training, the said beneficiaries are provided free accommodation and paid reasonable stipends for upkeeps until they are properly groomed to stand on their own. Hence he has not only created wealth through sound corporate leadership, but also built people. He is the current President of Ebonyi Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (EBCCIMA) and also the 2nd Deputy President, South East Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA) and National Officer of NACCIMA, the leader of OPS in Nigeria. As EBCCIMA President, he lead the likes of Guy Murray-Bruce (of Silverbird Group), Dr Charles Dimwaobi (of Everyday Group), as well as Prince Tony and Uchechukwu Okoroafor (both of the Computer Village Merchants of Nigeria) in the signing of Investment MOUs with the Ebonyi State Government (EBSG) during the Ebonyi Business Forum convened on Tuesday 22nd September, 2020 at Ecumenical Centre - Abakaliki. Ezeh is the immediate past President of Izhi Tehu Foundation (ITF), a Public Foundation cum Pressure Group with the primary aim of promoting unity, progress and overall development among the Izhi people, and by extention, Ebonyi people. ITF is a duly incorporated association of Izhi intellectuals and well exposed individuals scattered both across the country and in the Diaspora; and have today become one of the foremost think-tanks for the Izhi kinfolk in Ebonyi State – Nigeria. Utilizing his grassroot mobilization/leadership ingenuity and in keeping to ITF’s vision, he successfully worked with relevant stakeholders, individuals and other well meaning groups within Izhi land in the overhauling and restructuring of the erstwhile Izhi Forum into what is known today as Oha Izhi Nnodo – the apex socio-cultural organization for the Izhi people. During the Izhi Massacre 2021 (a bloody attack by herdsmen on some border communities) which saw the death of over 100 persons with over 80 others fatally-injured, he utilized his position as the President of ITF to lead the mobilization and transparent deployment of over N12m and a plenitude of other relief materials within few days. His pragmatic action, in addition to the laudable interventions of EBSG and Ebonyi Local Government Council, helped in no small measure in providing succour to the victims of the unfortunate incident. *Personal Qualities* Dr Ezeh could comfortably be described as a man in whom there's no guile, just as Jesus would say of Nathaniel, not because he is not human but for the spirit of excellence that conspicuously rests on him. He epitomises the spirit of hard-work, uprightness, meekness, generosity and hospitality of the average Izhi man. He has a chronic bias for action and working with him requires a lot mental bravery and alertness, yet he retains his uncommon virtue of patience that enables him groom talents from scratch to finish. Ezeh is widely known for his profound simplicity, even amidst affluence, and his tendency to treat everyone with utmost respect irrespective of socioeconomic status, racial or religious inclinations. *EZEHs 3R Vision for Ebonyi: A People Focused 7-Points Agenda* In Dr Ezeh's words during the official declaration of his interest: "Our vision as a government will be anchored on three Pillars, Recovery, Rebuilding and Restoration of Ebonyi State. My Government shall bring back the People Element to Governance. We shall put the People first. Issues around the Nkalagu Cement Factory for example will be resolved in a manner that the Nigercem brand will be the driver of our industrialization policy. It will provide needed jobs for the masses in line with our People First Focus..." According to him, the 3R Agenda is slated to resolve majorly around the following 7-point Agenda: 1. Basic Human Development (Health, Education, Housing, Security and Environmental Sustainability) 2. Civil Service Reform - Repositioning for optimal productivity. 3. Youth Empowerment - Through Formal Education, Informal Education, Apprenticeship/entrepreneurship, Tech and Sports. 4. Industrialization - with special attention on Cement Production, Aggressive Solid minerals development, Smart Agriculture and Agro processing. 5. Massive Job Creation - Targeting all categories of citizens within the Labour Force, especially Women. 6. Rural Access/Development - with specific target of minimizing rural-urban migration and making every area of agriculture attractive to young people. 7. Bold Ideas - Making Ebonyi a transport hub (novel transport strategy), Medical Village, Games Village, Computer and ICT village, etc *Sundry Remarks the 3R Vision* During a dinner held in Abuja (from 23rd-24th Feb 2022), in honour of South East business leaders, state Presidents of Chambers of commerce, Director Generals, Youth and Women entrepreneurs at the sideline of NACCIMA 1st quarter Council meeting, Dr Ezeh asserted that he is in the governorship race to support in halting the dangerous descent into ungovernable spaces in the Southeast. In his words, "the east is dying a slow but painful death, our youths need jobs, our small businesses need a supportive environment to thrive, and the times call for entrepreneurs, intellectuals and technocrats to get involved in politics and the political process". He expressed deep worry at how the young men and women have become both desperate and despondent, and how the Nigerian conundrum has presented a sad reality of Poverty in the midst of plenty. Also in an interactive session with journalists on Monday the 3rd of April, 2022, Ezeh took time to throw extensive light on his 3R vision. He reiterated his pledge to transform and decorate the destiny of ebonyians by pursuing aggressive human capital development and industrialization in the state, emphasizing his strong belief that this was the only way to guarantee massive job creation and life-changing opportunities that would lift the people out of poverty. According to him, "I am ashamed to continue to belong to the extensively back-ward state in the southeast. As an entrepreneur, the call to service is now, to decorate the destinies of the Ebonyi people, because our business environment has collapsed and we need to pursue our vision anchored on three pillars of the Recovery, Rebuilding and Restoration of Ebonyi State to the original dreams of our founding fathers. I have a plan for Ebonyi people and it is not mouthing promises. When I said I will build human capacity, I will do it. …, when I said, I will create jobs for our people and I mean it, and it will be a way of encouraging our people, to make a meaningful living anywhere in the world." He noted that part of his first policy priorities would be to revive the Nkalagu cement factory - NIGERCEM, which has the capacity to absorb a good number of our teaming youths, much of whom are either unemployed or underemployed. The factory, according to him, also has the potential to bridge supply gap in the building-materials market, and thereby improve housing and real estate industry, not only in the Ebonyi State but also in the Southeast region and the country at large. Ezeh emphasised that NIGERCEM would not only be resuscitated by his administration, but constantly serve as the driver of the industrialization policy of his leadership, and major issues surrounding the dearth of productivity of the factory would be resolved within the first 100 days of resuming office as the Governor of Ebonyi State. He also disclosed that part of his vision is to see Ebonyi State have things like Tech village(s), medical village(e), game village(s) and other industrial clusters that would get the state properly aligned with the 21st century industrialization velocity. He pointed out that his business in government would be to create wealth and ensure speedy hike in the living-standard of the average ebonyian, noting that a selfless focus on the effective harnessing and development of the over-30 mineral deposits in the state would go a long way in helping to achieve this. Still during the said Media interaction, Dr Ezeh decried the poor asses roads to (and from) most villages in the state where the real farmers are located, making it extremely difficult for them to get adequate value for their efforts, noting that part of his policy priorities would be to make all aspects of agriculture attractive to the youths by providing basic amenities in the hinterlands, including putting in shape feeder roads across the state. This, according to him, would drastically reduce unnecessary rural-urban migration, ensuring that young people are able to stay put and apply themselves to systematic self development processes rather than jump off to go hawk in different cities around the country. He promised that within the first 100 days in office, he'll embark on what he described as "culverts and bridges revolution" under which he'll ensure that no part of the state is cut off from participating actively in the economy. In his words "Others come to you with money, I come to you with an assignment....how many culverts do you need to make sure you drive to your villages in this rainy season?...I will face it within 100 days in the office". Ezeh emphasised that he is set to give serious attention to the simple things that make life meaningful to the ordinary people, including easy access to portable water. It is obvious how most people in the state, especially in the villages hardly find drinkable water, as most of them depend on muddy waters that are not fit for human consumption. While commending the efforts of the previous administrations in the state, he said stated noted as follows: “...the present administration is built for the future, but a critical part is missing – The Human Development part. I will bring that aspect into the basket and quickly develop the state to match the dreams and vision of the present administration. Ebonyi indeed has been blessed with visionary leaders simply because our very first Executive Governor, Distinguished Senator Dr Sam Ominyi Egwu built a solid foundation upon which Chief Martin Elechi took off from. With the present challenges facing Nigeria and Ebonyi State now, Ebonyi requires a man of ideas. It takes a man who can create wealth to manage wealth" Speaking on security, Dr Ezeh revealed that he'll be adopting a community based security architecture that would see the people taking mutual responsibility with the government in ensuring adequate security of lives and property in every part of the state. *Conclusion* It needs not be stressed the uncommon developmental breakthroughs to which Dr Ezeh’s wealth of experience, expertise and personal sterling qualities would translate upon his resumption of office as the Governor of Ebonyi State come 2023. Although very young, he is by all standards, so many miles ahead of all his contenders! Immaculate, as he fondly called, obviously comes highly networked, intellectually vibrant, physically fit and emotionally sound. He promises a people oriented governance and to make Ebonyi an Outlier for Transformational leadership through uncommon commitment and courage for necessary risks. In one of his speeches following the disclosure of his guber aspiration, he remarked thus: "I am comfortable with taking risks; I am an entrepreneur, and right from my childhood, I have been taking risks, just to develop myself and get more advanced for the benefit of humanity. I am willing to take risks on bold ideas. Leadership has become empty, I am ready to work 18 hours every day. This has been my working lifestyle. Ebonyi doesn't require a governor that will work few months and run away on vacation. The days of frivolous consumption and fashionable fake lifestyle will be over under my watch. Ebonyi doesn't require a governor that will be sharing leadership with his family members, adult children and in-laws. Join me let us face four years of hard work and see how much progress that is possible when a people rise with a determined mindset at liberation. 2023 is a make or mar, and I want us to know that the Almighty God has remembered Ebonyi and indeed Nigeria. The new electoral law will be a jinx breaker. Now, you must elect not just a governor but men and women of integrity across boards” Ebonyians must look no further. The man - Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh (EEE) is here! This is triple excellence! With the diversity of experience he is bringing to the table, such as; his finance background, leadership training from one of the world's elite institutions, multiple doctoral qualifications from reputable institutions of higher learning, and a business career spanning multiple fields such as Media, ICT, Renewable Energy, and many others; he is, beyond reasonable doubt, prepared enough to occupy the apex seat in Ebonyi state. ©️Louis Nwebonyi xecutive Assistant to the Chairman, Immaculate Group and member, Immaculate-2023 Media Team