Kogi East stands today at a defining crossroads — a region rich in human and natural resources but starved of strategic leadership, industrial vision, and economic coordination. Once seen as the cradle of enlightenment and political influence in Kogi State, the zone now grapples with a paradox: abundance in potential, yet scarcity in prosperity. The economic stagnation that has gripped Kogi East is not just a failure of governance; it is a reflection of a people who have for too long looked outward for solutions that must be birthed from within.
As the world moves rapidly towards regional integration and digital economies, Kogi East cannot afford to remain static. The global economic conversation has shifted from dependence to self-reliance — from mere consumption to production. With fertile lands stretching across Idah, Ankpa, Dekina, Bassa and Ibaji; with rivers that whisper stories of forgotten trade routes; and with a youth population bursting with creative energy, Kogi East holds the blueprint of its own economic redemption. What it needs is not another political promise but a coordinated economic revolution driven by purpose, innovation, and partnership.
Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, once remarked, “Economic transformation does not come by wishful thinking but by consistent action anchored on vision.” The truth is undeniable — Kogi East must move beyond lamentation into pragmatic enterprise. This region must begin to see its agricultural wealth not as subsistence but as enterprise; its rivers not as symbols of beauty but as instruments of trade; and its youths not as dependents but as digital innovators waiting to be unleashed.
The Niger River, which gracefully borders the eastern plains, once served as a lifeline for commerce and communication. Yet, over the years, the absence of maritime development, poor infrastructure, and neglect of inland trade have turned a potential goldmine into an idle stream. A dynamic Kogi East economy must reawaken these lost channels. River ports and agro-processing hubs can transform rural communities into export corridors, turning cassava, rice, palm oil, and fish into global brands. Imagine a future where “Made in Igala Land” products compete proudly in African markets — that future is possible if deliberate investments replace political slogans.
It is time for a new generation of leaders — economic thinkers, not just political actors. The Igala elite must recognize that real influence now lies not in appointments but in investments. Let them return home to build industries, sponsor research, and empower small businesses. As Dr. Paul Enenche once said, “True dominion is not in title but in tangible impact.” The young people of Kogi East must equally rise — learning trades, embracing technology, and transforming challenges into enterprises. The region’s destiny cannot be outsourced; it must be authored by its own hands.
The key sectors for revival are clear: agriculture, education, digital enterprise, and tourism. Dekina’s fertile lands can anchor large-scale mechanized farming. Idah, the historic seat of the Igala Kingdom, can reinvent itself as a cultural tourism hub. Ankpa and Anyigba can become the new face of digital start-ups and educational innovation. Ibaji, blessed with oil and fertile wetlands, can lead a responsible local content model that ensures oil wealth benefits its people first.
The rebirth of Kogi East must be underpinned by unity of purpose. Political differences must give way to a shared economic agenda. This is not a time for tribal division or intra-zone rivalry; it is a time to rally around a collective dream — one that envisions Kogi East as the engine room of Northern Nigeria’s growth. The words of Bishop David Oyedepo echo aptly: “You cannot change your position until you change your perception.” It is time to perceive Kogi East not as a victim of neglect but as a land capable of shaping its own fortune.
If this reawakening is pursued with discipline, collaboration, and innovation, then history will not remember this generation as those who watched their heritage fade, but as those who rekindled its fire. The sleeping giant of the Niger must rise again — not through noise, but through noble deeds. Kogi East must dream differently, act deliberately, and build boldly until her economy becomes not a tale of lost potential, but a testimony of renaissance.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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