Nnewi: Her Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Photos)

Nnewi: Her Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Photos)

Nnewi is the second-largest city in Anambra State , south-eastern Nigeria. Nnewi as a city encompasses two local government areas, Nnewi-North, Nnewi-south; Nnewi North is commonly referred to as Nnewi central and comprises four autonomous quarters: Otolo, Umudim, Uruagu, and Nnewichi.

Nnewi is said to have existed as an independent kingdom since the 15th Century till date. A lot of things have changed over the years from the inception of being an independent kingdom till date. From certain yardsticks such as population, infrastructures, roads, electricity, education, and industries, it can be concluded that growth and development have occurred in different phases in Nnewi over time. Growth has been significant in areas such as;

-Economy

Agbo Edo, a forest land which belonged to Edo Nnewi deity, was cleared to make way for a new market called Nkwo Nnewi market. The development of this market propelled the fast development of the local economy. Nnewi experiences voluminous financial activities, therefore hosts major banks and other financial institutions. Industries are dotted within the city and adjoining towns. Palm oil, cosmetics, motor and motorcycle spare parts, books, and stationery, textiles, electric cables, and so on, are produced in commercial quantity in the area.

-Industries

Nnewi is home to many major indigenous manufacturing industries. The great majority of industrialists in the cluster of spare parts factories in Nnewi are also traders, and most of these traders produce one or more of the products they deal on (usually motor vehicle parts). Most of them started off as distributors of the products through the pre-existing distribution networks.

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Over the last decade, the town of Nnewi has experienced relatively rapid industrialization. In excess of 20 medium-to-large-scale industries have been established across a variety of sectors. Since 1970, Nnewi residents have controlled approximately 80 to 90 percent of the motor-parts trade in Nigeria.

-Agriculture

The predominant occupation in Nnewi is trading and farming, therefore the indigenes depend mainly on agriculture and commerce for their source of livelihood. In Nnewi, most families have mbubo (home gardens) and ubi (out-station gardens) where they usually cultivate their farm products. These crops, when they are harvested are usually taken to the market for sale. Most of the prime cash-crops include oil palm, raffia palm, groundnut, melon, cotton, cocoa, rubber, maize, et cetera. Food crops such as yam, cassava, cocoyam, breadfruit, and three-leaf yam are also produced in large quantities.

-Education

The ancient city of Nnewi hosts a number of traditional and formal learning institutions. The places of learning in this town include; Medical University: Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Government secondary schools; Okongwu Memorial Grammar school, Mari Regina Sec. School, Nnewi High School, Ichi Technical School (Ichi Community), Ichi Girls, Akaboezem Community Secondary School, Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewichi community Secondary School, etc.

Private schools; Summit International School, the Good Shepherd School, New Era School, Dr. Alutu’s College of Excellence School, Christ The king, etc.

-Transportation

Since the end of the Second World War, Nnewi has metamorphosized into a home for several transport and logistics businesses. Philip Odumegwu Ojukwu was one of Nigeria’s first transporters and since then, many more transporters have emerged from Nnewi.

 

Today, growth and development in Nnewi has slowed down drastically or become stagnated.

Nnewi being the second largest metropolitan city in Anambra State, and as a major industrial and commercial hub in Africa, needs to evolve from where she is now so as to attain her true potentials, as change is constant with time as regards growth and development.

This growth and development cannot be achieved without great innovative minds and true patriots with the quest of making Nnewi great at heart. Therefore, to move away from our present self-inflicted punishment or entanglement, to where we want or ought to be, there must be a total turn around in our myopic ways of perceiving things, we need to be genuinely ready to make certain sacrifices, willing to carry out those activities that are not just admirable in our eyes but equal and culturally acceptable for progressive future and posterity of our City.

The silly language “I MAKWA NDI NA-EKWU N’OBODO” should be jettisoned and buried. We should aggressively pursue healthy development for the sake of humanity, justice, equity, fair play, selfless services, non-egotism, and self-belief; with belief in ourselves, we can achieve greatness as a people.

Nnewi is a City that has no lack for great and influential personalities, which brings to fore this question; why haven’t we attained our true potentials?

Prosperity is just in front of us, if only we can be united because united we stand and divided we fall.
Unity is achievable, where there is will, there is always a way.

The Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) that is generated from this town is massive; one would wonder why the growth and development of this town appear to be stunted. The Government should rise up to its responsibility and tackle unemployment, decaying health and education sector, bad roads and non-existent infrastructure in this town.

Growth and development in all ramifications is paramount as Nnewi urbanizes. It’s very pertinent to give our future generation a chance at a brighter future. We ought to embark on massive youth mobilization or orientation and empowerment. If this idea is given serious consideration and subsequent implementation, then we have taken a step towards genuine growth and much-needed development in Nnewi.

To make the youth more productive and useful to themselves, their parents and the society at large, the best education for them is that of ”Head and hand” meaning” Experience and Education”, as advocated by a great American Psychologist, John Dewey. After all, what will stand the test of time is the combination of the practicability of learning and intellectualism. With the two unifying in one man, he is said to be a real erudite, but anything outside this ideal in the aspect of youth growth and development is considered a vain hope for the youths of tomorrow.

In the sector of health care, more primary healthcare centers should be built, teaching hospitals expanded, well renovated and equipment, as well as old primary healthcare centers, to boost the efficiency of healthcare practitioners in carrying out their work and saving lives. Also, more public health programs should be organized periodically to educate society on how to improve care, improve lifestyle, detection, prevention, and control of different diseases.

Education is the best tool for a child on the journey of life. As they say, children are the future of tomorrow and for a better tomorrow, the planning starts now. Some great individuals have contributed to this sector by building private owned schools and awarding scholarships to assist intelligent children who have the zeal of being educated despite the inability of their families to cater for the financial responsibility.

What is a city without basic social amenities? Road, electricity, water, and infrastructures are necessities for growth and development of any city as it also brings about both foreign and local investors, increases the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as well as exposure.

Leaders in Nnewi and Anambra State should look into the urbanizing and modernizing Nkwo market, repairing and constructing better road network in the city as its residents need it for easier and safer transportation.

The power supply has slightly improved in Nnewi compared to what it was before, but not yet at its best. Nnewi being an industrial city needs a steady power supply, so as to encourage and support industries sited here and also attract both local and foreign investors. More effort should be put in by the State Government to remedy this situation.

All these are yardsticks for measuring growth and development of any city. Growth and development are meant to be progressive with time, not stagnant. It is achievable anywhere in the world. With innovative ideas, set goals, undistorted devotion, hard work, true patriotism and determination of leaders and its people, growth, and development is bound to materialize.