By Onu Okorieu

An industrialist Mr Osita Onuoha, JAMT has suggested that the university town, Nsukka must position itself early to capture a significant share of Enugu State’s ambitious $30 billion investment drive.
The call is contained in an investor-focused pitch titled “Why Nsukka Must Key in Now,” which argues that the economic opportunities being created under Governor Peter Mbah’s development programme should not be concentrated in Enugu metropolis.
He stressed that the administration’s economic transformation agenda should benefit communities across the state.
According to him , the governor’s “Tomorrow Is Here” agenda is designed to move Enugu State from an economy driven largely by consumption to one based on production, investment and enterprise.
He argued that Nsukka possesses critical assets needed to participate meaningfully in the emerging economy, including land, human capital, agricultural resources and a large pool of educated people.
The industrialist also highlighted ongoing efforts by Engr. Jude Asogwa to advance Governor Mbah’s proposed 10,000-hectare land bank and Smart Farm Estates across the state’s local government areas.
Osita Onuoha said such initiatives could provide opportunities to improve agricultural mechanisation, access to improved seedlings and market linkages in Nsukka communities including Opi, Eha-Alumona, Lejja and Obukpa.
He further projected significant opportunities in real estate and housing as infrastructure and security improve, arguing that land values in Nsukka could rise substantially over the next three years.
He identified Nsukka Urban, in particular, as having potential for expanded housing and estate development to meet the needs of staff, students and workers associated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka UNN.Beyond large-scale investment, he urged households and small businesses to participate directly in the emerging opportunities by developing student hostels, residential flats, pharmacies around new primary healthcare centres, as well as agricultural and animal-husbandry enterprises.Onuoha stressed that the projected $30 billion economy should not be viewed simply as government expenditure, but as an opportunity for private capital, entrepreneurs, landowners and households to participate in wealth creation.“Gov. Mbah is building the table. Chairman Asogwa is bringing Nsukka to the table,” he stated, urging investors and residents to act early rather than wait until the opportunities become fully developed.He maintained that the central issue was not whether Nsukka had the resources to participate, but whether residents and investors would position themselves early enough to benefit from the state’s economic expansion. “The $30bn target is not government money, it’s business money. And business belongs to those who start early,” it added.