Dr. Kema Chikwe’s Economic Diplomacy
By Uche Ohia
Key players in Nigeria’s private sector are getting set to troop to Dublin, the languid capital of Ireland for an annual summer forum intended to forge closer ties between them and their Irish counterparts: the International Gateway Economic Partnership Summit (I-GEPS). I_GEPS is organised by the Embassy of Nigeria in Dublin in conjunction with the African Business Roundtable and Applied Consulting to promote direct foreign investment. I-GEPS is the brainchild of Dr. Kema Chikwe, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ireland and Iceland.
Ireland
Ireland is a scenic island country of slightly more than 4 million people hemmed in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. A visual delight with beautiful flowers, flowing rivers, unending greenery and ubiquitous pubs, Ireland is a hodgepodge of old and new: ruins of castles dot the country, ancient buildings, old churches and pubs, narrow roads that originally served horse-drawn carriages co-exist with ultra modern airports, new multi-lane motorways, glass towers, gigantic malls and other emerging land marks.
Nigeria and Ireland
Relations between Nigeria and Ireland date back more than 200 years. To Ireland more than any other country belongs the credit for pioneering western education and Christian evangelism especially in Southern Nigeria. Aside from schools and churches established by Irish priests and religious bodies, Irish nuns set up the earliest medical facilities. One such hospice, the Holy Rosary Medical Complex is located at Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government area of Imo State which happens to be the hometown of Dr. Kema Chikwe. Today, Chikwe has taking another kind of mission to Ireland: a mission of economic evangelism.
The Vision
Since her appointment in 2008, Dr. Chikwe has shown unflagging commitment to expanding economic relations between Nigeria and Ireland. I-GEPS was conceived as a strategic response to the prevailing trade imbalance between Nigeria and Ireland/Iceland which stands at about 112 million Euros for Ireland alone as against a mere 65,000 Euros for Nigeria. The strategy for I-GEPS was formulated in July 2008. I-GEPS was premised on the projection that as an oil producing country located in the epicentre of West African commerce and industry with a vibrant population of more than 150 million and foreign reserves exceeding $US50b, Nigeria offered colossal investment opportunities.
The First Summit
The premier I-GEP Summit took place between June 2 and 6, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown, Dublin 12. Anchored on a well–articulated programme, it was well organised with an Opening Session, a technical session, and Bankers/Financial Forum before the main conference.
Interaction
The summit provides a forum for interaction between Nigerian and Irish investors in various sectors. Issues pertaining to energy production, solid minerals development, communications, agriculture, banking, aviation, transport, mines, steel, science, technology and tourism enjoy prominence.
Speakers
Among Nigerian speakers at the first I-GEPS were the President of African Business Round Table, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, the Chief Executive of Bank of Industry PLC, Evelyn Oputu, the Group Managing Director of Afribank Nigeria PLC, Mr. Sebastian Adigwe, Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Egboga, former Honourable Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, the Managing Director of Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Alhaji Yusuf Baba Ahmed, etc. Organisations from Nigeria represented included TINAPA, LNG, Zenox, etc
Key Irish participants included the Irish Minister of State with special responsibility for Science, Technology/Innovation and Natural Resources, Mr. Conor Lenihan, Chief Executive of Industrial Development Authority, Barry O’Leary, Deputy Chairman of ANP International Finance Limited Dublin, Clive Carpenter, Director Chambers, Ireland, Ian Talbot, Ray Langton of Guinness Diageo Ireland, Mr Brian Phelan of Glanbia, Eugene Brennan of Shannon Development, Limerick Kevin Cuthbertson of Bactec International U.K, CEO Dublin Chamber of Commerce, P.J. Timmins, etc. Irish organisations visible at the exhibition stands included Carey Glass, Tullow Oil, Advantage Resources, etc
The second I-GEPS summit
The 2nd I-GEPS with the theme “Beyond the Crisis: Emerging Opportunities for Business Partnership between Nigeria and Ireland” comes up from June 21 to 28, 2010 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin 4. Planned to build on the gains of the last summit, the 2010 summit will also feature sessions on a wide range of investment opportunities and businesses.
Chikwe’s Mission
Where does she get her energy? How is she able to power on despite widespread negative perceptions of Nigeria and Nigerians? Dr. Kema Chikwe seems to operate on an inbuilt dynamo in her relentless resolve to attract investors to Nigeria. Her sales pitch is consistent. Her voice is strident. Hear her: Nigeria is a diverse economy with opportunities in oil and natural gas, solid minerals, telecoms, energy, tourism, infrastructure, agriculture and a strong banking sector with global branch networks. Nigeria is investing over N5 trillion naira ($35b) in key priority sectors – critical infrastructure (power, aviation, works, transport, petroleum resources, etc), food security (focusing on agriculture and water resources) and the development of the Niger Delta. The message is simple and persuasive. Irish investors are turning their gaze towards the Nigerian economy.
Business and Leisure
Participants to the first I-GEPS were taken on excursions to such places in different counties of Ireland. Many participants also stepped out on their own personal excursions.
Ireland is full of interesting places and historical monuments. Many of these are in Dublin. The River Liffey runs through the middle of Dublin effectively dividing the City into two: the north side and the south side. Several bridges across the River Liffey link north Dublin to South Dublin. The O’Connel Bridge on O’Connel Street is popular with tourists who often stand on it to take photographs. Trinity College, the oldest university in Ireland is also in Dublin City centre. It was founded in 1592. The General Post Office stands inscrutably down the road. Unlike Nigeria where text messaging has practically killed letter writing, the Irish are great patrons of the post office. The postman carrying out his duties on a bicycle from house to house is still a regular daily sight in most Irish cities. The amazing Spire of Dublin at the site of the former Nelson’s Pillar on O’Çonnel Street is a major landmark. Standing at 121.2m (398 ft) in height, the large tapering stainless steel monument is touted as the world’s tallest sculpture.
At every turn, there are strings of pubs and clubs that have booze flowing round the clock. Temple Bar, perhaps the most popular pub in the city, was established in 1840. The Guinness Storehouse located at St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin City provides a virtual museum of Guinness history on seven floors. On the seventh floor which houses the Gravity Bar, a visitor may get a complimentary pint of Guinness and enjoy a 360 degree view of Dublin City. There are shopping arcades all over the city and there are gigantic malls such as Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Dumdrum shopping Centre, etc. All over Ireland, there are rivers, lakes, mountains and parks to satisfy anyone with great attraction to the outdoors. The 700 hectares Phoenix Park in Dublin is one of the largest in the world. The well-manicured St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin City Centre also stands as a testimony to Irish love for the outdoors.
Still, the most popular hangouts for visitors from Nigeria seem to be the African restaurants in Dublin especially the ones that stock Nigerian food such as Decency Restaurant, on Mountjoy Street in Dublin 7, City Centre. After the initial thrill of feeding on potatoes, an Irish staple that goes with virtually every meal, it is a delight for Nigerian visitors to savour chunks of fish, meat, soup, garri, amala, tuwo and the assortment of spicy soups common in Nigerian culinary culture.
I-GEPS is a forum for networking. Beyond that, the summit provides a blend of business and leisure with a whiff of Irish tradition. An exciting package of has been put together for participants at the 2nd summit with Amb. Kema Chikwe as host and Ms Grace Egbagbe as Anchor. Irish traditions lay emphasis on strong family values, warmth and hospitality. The Irish like to share a drink and a laugh. They don’t also mind a little gossip. Who does? Dublin is an enchanting city with memorable sights and antique structures. Participants to the second summit in Dublin may find at the end of their mission to Dublin a picture that they may wish to paint for Nigeria. (uchebush@yahoo.com; 0805 1090 050)
