The Chancellor of Gregory
University, Uturu, Abia State, Dr Gregory Ibe, has described heavy taxation as a hindrance to private investment in the South-East region of the country.
Ibe said this in an interview with newsmen during the unveiling of the symbol of the World Igbo Summit Group by the Igbo Renaissance Centre of the University.
He said that the taxation imposed by states and local governments need to be harmonised to encourage and support the development of private sector investors into the region’s economy.
The chancellor said that levies and taxes imposed on the University by the Abia Government and Isuikwuato Local Government Council, for instance, were taking a big toll on the finances of the institution.
“Abia state and local governments want to stifle life out of us. If you are running at a loss, not making profit, and you need to pay taxes and levies that you can use to pay salaries, it does not encourage development at all.
“We are in a state of dilemma and we are not happy. We need government to look at these challenges and help us for the overall economic development of the state and council,” he said.
Ibe called for the encouragement of investors in terms of tax exemptions, adding that this will “encourage Igbo people at home and the Diaspora to come back home and invest”.
The chancellor pointed out that the educational sector of the region has taken a nose dive due to concentration on art and humanity studies instead of engineering and technology.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to U.S., Prof. George Obiozor, called on the Igbo people to rekindle their ‘think-home philosophy’ and self-help spirit in order to develop their area.
Obiozor urged prominent sons and daughters of Igboland to return home and invest and stop lamenting of marginalisation by the Federal Government.
“No more lamentation, come back to base and develop your land. Nigeria should stop talking about peace but should talk about justice,” he said.
Obiozor urged the Federal Government to implement the report of the National Conference in order to curb the agitation for a referendum.
Also speaking, former Minister of Education, Prof. Ihechukwu Madubuike, charged the Igbos on upholding the Igbo Language to save it from extinction.
Madubuike urged the people to be conscious that Igbo Language remained their “mother tongue” and should constitute their major means of communication with their children and wards.
The Director-General of the summit group, Dr Ifedi Okwenna, described the three-day summit, slated for October 27 to 30, as a “50-year visioning assignment”.
Okwenna said: “It is a platform for continuous dialogue aimed at strategising and developing a roadmap in all sectors and monitoring the growth and development, using determined benchmark.’’
NAN reports that the unveiling ceremony was attended by the former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Josephine Aninih, representatives of different Igbo groups and associations, as well as student associations, among others.