By Michael Ezenwata
The maiden hybrid international conference, micro small and medium enterprises trade exhibition and launch of the WTO chairs programme in Nigeria recorded a huge success at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Campus.
The conference powered by Prof Ngozi Egbuna International Centre For Regional Integration And Trade Research has as its theme”30 years of Nigeria In WTO: Opportunities, Challenges And Prospects’
In a message to the occasion from Geneva via zoom, the Director General World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala (Represented), appreciated the efforts of Prof Egbuna in championing trade research and regional integration in Africa and for doubling as the WTO Chair for Nigeria.
Dr. Okonjo- Iweala expressed belief in the possibility of Africa hitting high targets in trade promotion if its vast human and material resources are fully utilized.
The WTO DG expects leaders in the sub Saharan Africa to create the enabling environment for free trade zone and leveraging on its vast potentials.
In another message, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Unizik, Prof. Carol Arinze- Umobi represented by the Director Academic Planning of the University, Professor Angela Ufele-Obiesie congratulated Prof. Egbuna through whose instrumentality the center was launched and whose position as the first ever WTO Chair Nigeria is note worthy.
The acting Vice Chancellor expects Nigeria to cash in on the opportunities offered by the WTO to promote its sustainable development and tackle the challenges of improving people’s living standards, creating better jobs, among other challenges facing the country.
Prof. Egbuna in her welcome address, urged participants and the global community to implement policies that will facilitate global trade.
According to the director, a future that is fair, inclusive, responsive, and a path that restores trust, and revitalizes materialism and reaffirms the WTO’s mission which aims to use trade as a means to promote people’s living standards etc, should be pursued vigorously.
In their paper presentations, the lead paper presenter Prof. Mohammed Tawfiq Ladan and Prof Jonathan Aremu spoke via zoom, and dwelt on the imperatives of formulating results oriented policies that favour the promotion of regional trade agreement among nations.
In a contribution, a participant and former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Anambra State, Hon. Dr. Bridget Obi called for inclusivity among nations to explore opportunities of inter trade relations.
Dr. Obi doubling as the South East Coordinator Women In Export, Trade and Investment expects leaders to use their positions of trust to create an enabling environment for micro and medium scale enterprises to thrive.
She used the forum to appreciate Governor Chukwuma Soludo for elevating the state to the next level and expects the citizenry to give him their unalloyed support.
On her part, the National President Association of Management and Social Sciences, Association of Nigeria of the Department of Accountancy Enugu State University of Science and Technology Prof. Lucy Uche Onyekwelu appreciated Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and Prof. Egbuna for championing the promotion of trade at the global and intercontinental levels respectively.
According to Prof. Onyekwelu, the actualization of regional integration and free trade zone will be actualized in an atmosphere of security and the political will to implement policies that will drive it.
She expressed delight in being part of the international conference which occasioned an assemblage of the academia from different parts of the world.
Contributing, Dr. Chinyere Ubochi-Nwankwo a participant of the Madonna University Nigeria, appreciated the efforts of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala whom she described as her mentor and role model in promoting global trade.
Prof. Ubochi-Nwankwo used the forum to also felicitate with Prof. Egbuna for organizing the conference which offered the opportunity for intellectuals to brainstorm on the ways to improve regional integration on trade.
- Ezenwata is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
