Aka Ikenga, a Pan-Igbo Think Thank, will be hosting a development-oriented summit tagged “The 2015 Integrated Economic Summit”. The summit is scheduled to hold on November 24 and 25, 2015 at Enitona Hotels, Aba, Abia State.

Planned to be an annual event, the maiden edition of the summit will focus on the efforts to vigorously chat a new course for an integrated economic development agenda for the contiguous states of Imo, Abia, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu and Rivers.

The summit is also designed to foster an atmosphere of mutual cooperation among the states, with a view to providing the enabling environment for a mutually beneficial economic block that would act as a catalyst for industrial growth and development.

A joint statement signed by the President of Aka Ikenga Chief Goddy Uwazurike, and the Organising Committee Secretary, Chief Ano Anyanwu, indicated that a cross section of the critical stakeholders drawn from the involved states of Imo, Abia, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu and Rivers are expected to actively participate in the summit, that is partly designed to bring together, distinguished sons and daughters of the states from within and outside the country.

The summit is also expected to attract other participants from across the globe with diverse business interests and would provide a veritable platform for the articulation of systematic and enduring developmental programmes, which will elicit the speedy transformation of the participating states.

According to Uwazurike, “The association is certain that such a healthy synergy will enhance the socio-economic well-being of the Igbo people in particular and improve the overall economic growth of the Nigerian nation.”

At the summit, invited guests would be given the opportunity to sponsor/support the initiative through donations that would be classified into different categories of Emerald Sponsors, Gold Sponsors, Silver Sponsors and Bronze Sponsors.

All the categories of sponsors would be entitled to a page of commendation/advert and a plaque, as a token appreciation from Aka Ikenga.

The Aka Ikenga is an association of Igbo intellectuals, top managers, accomplished businessmen and businesswomen, and Igbo conscious people with major focus on the creation of job opportunities and economic development of the former Eastern States of Nigeria.

The association is positioned to stem the massive exodus of Igbo youths, who are energetic, to other parts of the country in search of greener pastures, Uwazurike said.

•Photo shows Aka Ikenga President, Uwazurike.