Recently, an appeal fund raising ceremony organised by ICDA witnessed a display of too much money by political titans just to build Igala Unity House. But quickly forget how much we have become the politician everybody claimed to despise for not doing anything for the people after three consecutive tenures particularly as Governor of Kogi State. We failed to realize the strategic position of Kogi Ceramic Industry Ltd to the socio-cultural growth and development of the state compared to Igala Unity House in the first instance.
A Unity House is not a place where problems are discussed or shared alone. Rather it is place where proceeds of victory and land mark achievements are celebrated too. The aim of building Igala Unity House remains utterly defeated until the most iconic relic of history Kogi Ceramic Industry is brought back to life from its slumber. Our industry has being lying dormant at Idah the traditional seat of Attah, His Royal Majesty Ameh Oboni II and headquarters of Igala Kingdom arguably the 6th largest ethnic group in Nigeria.
The industry is bedevilled with shameful outlook as old as the age of Methuselah. It looks haggard, battered and tattered like British Titanic passenger ship that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean after colliding with an iceberg during its maiden voyage in 1912. So sad indeed !
Kogi Ceramic industry is not a sleeping giant difficult to wake up from comatose. A government that believes in the talent and potentials of her citizen will devote a large portion of the revenue to invest in a vision like the Ceramic Industry. This is with a view to create robust job opportunities for the increasing number of the unemployed Youth in Kogi State and beyond. This is in recognition of the positive impact of ceramic in an environment where there is unprecedented demand for building products especially tiles, glass everyday. Besides the value the industry added to the hosting community and the people of the state is obviously enormous.
Apart from producing roofing tiles, space shuttle tiles, engine components, artificial bones, teeth, and computers, the hosting community stand a chance to enjoy robust provision of social amenities, physical and infrastructural development as well as training and retraining of a pool of talented professionals capable of working with international talents to achieve a truly world-class design. The power plant alone is enough to remedy the epileptic supply of electricity in the hosting communities let alone to talk about the capacity of the Ceramic company to employ around 20,000 people with adequate remuneration. In the United Kingdom, Ceramic Industry generates £2 billion in sales and exporting product all over the world.
It is true the problem of unemployment is not the sole responsibility of the government alone. It is the responsibility of everybody. Accepted! However such obsolete excuse should not be a yard stick to transfer responsibilities for public housing, sanitary provision from government to the private organisation like BN Ceramic, West Africa Ceramic Industry situated at Ajaokuta in Kogi State. The primary duty of the government is to provide social security for the poorest of the poor in remote locations as well as the low income urban residents. This will ameliorate their suffering to provide other things for themselves especially shelter as home ownership is increasing in a growing economy. This will in turn empower the citizen to create their own economic security.
As every human beings body cannot stand without bones, no modern world can survive without ceramics. The current state of affairs of Kogi Ceramic Industry Ofukolo in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State is a monumental failure on the part of the government. This sector of the economy can be revamped without spending a dime provided we are well read, surrounded by experts, and not in a hurry to conclude a matter out of mere hearsay and ruin a well though out plans. At present, the outlook of the Industry is a gory demonstration of insensitivity, lack of initiative and “grab a meal sense” of our leaders. In fact it does not correspond with a society that values democracy, equality and survival of the young and ever-growing Youth in the State and Nigeria at large.
– Inah Stephen Eyiene
Inaheyienes@gmail.com
