Soludo Urges Ndigbo to Shift Mindset for Collective Progress

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has called on Igbo people across Nigeria and in the Diaspora to embrace a fundamental shift in mindset and work towards building collective institutions capable of driving sustainable development in the South-East.

Soludo made the call while delivering an address as special guest at the TEDxEnugu conference held at the International Conference Centre in Enugu State.

In his speech, titled Transcend Beyond Borders: The Next Chapter in the Igbo Story, the governor said the community had achieved considerable success through individual enterprise but had struggled to translate those accomplishments into broader regional prosperity.

He argued that personal wealth and business achievements would have limited collective impact without stronger institutions, coordinated investments and a shared development vision.

Soludo challenged Igbo entrepreneurs to move beyond individually owned businesses towards larger, sustainable corporate structures that could generate employment, attract investment and strengthen the region’s economic influence.

He illustrated the point by asking when the community would progress from businesses operating under individual family names to larger corporate entities capable of transforming cities and the wider region.

The governor noted that more than half of the Igbo population lived outside the South-East, stressing the need for those in the Diaspora to reconnect with their homeland and contribute to its development.

He urged the region to address local challenges, improve its economic environment and focus on building major enterprises that could compete internationally.

Soludo also encouraged young people to acquire high-value knowledge and practical skills, establish strategic partnerships and direct their energies towards innovation, technology and productive enterprise.

He cautioned against excessive rhetoric and urged the younger generation to prioritise practical initiatives that would create opportunities and deliver lasting benefits to communities.

Drawing from his transition from private-sector success to public service, the governor encouraged young Igbo people to participate more actively in governance, describing public service as an important form of philanthropy.

He further called for efforts to rebuild the South-East through strategic organisation, economic diplomacy and constructive engagement with Nigeria and the international community.

The governor said overcoming historical grievances and political divisions would require a pragmatic approach focused on long-term development rather than unproductive disputes.

The conference also featured contributions from Prof. Pat Utomi and ended with a call for the global Igbo community to mobilise its talent, capital and expertise towards building a modern, prosperous South-East for future generations.