The Role of Town Union President-Generals in Re-calibrating Economies of South East Communities
Written by Dr. Oliver Anyabolu
Virtually every town or community in the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria has a President-General (PG). This is not to be confused with a traditional ruler. Both leaders have distinct roles carved out for them.
Their respective roles are all geared towards the greater good of the communities or towns.
A competent President-General must, however, have good relationships with Igwe or Eze- in Council as the case may be. They must work in synergy. Any conflict between PG and the Igwe ultimately disrupts the functionality of the community.
Many causes range in disagreement between recognition of one Union to the other. Once the brawl begins, all the sectors of the operation or development are affected. For example, a health center that functions appropriately would stop working because of the division among the stakeholders in which one group is against the other.
Every PG of a town must have several goals to pursue or achieve during their term. While the Igwe of the community is an architect, the PG is a builder.
PG is a robust and respectful position. A good PG possesses a strong vision for the town and must answer this question: What are my goals for the town during my years in office?
He must put more personal time into the community’s affairs (though PG needs to be paid more). The PG should have the courage to make unpopular decisions that will positively impact his community. He must also have the ability to manage success during a crisis.
Competent PG should clarify, tell people what they plan to do, listen well, and allow ideas to be heard; value ideas, and show passion and compassion to the people. Empower others in the community, and promote groups, including Youth Wings and Women Wings, churches, and non-governmental organizations.
Effective PG must have strong relationships with Igwe in Council and stakeholders to address the food crisis in the community. It has been discovered that weakened immune systems and blindness result from poverty.
A proactive PG must therefore, at all times seek the help of experts in agriculture to do presentations and teach the youths ways to increase agricultural products. PG and stakeholders should set a goal for the town to promote food sufficiency. The rising production of tomatoes should be the mainstay of the community.
The town could have a center for agribusiness if adequately organized. Agro business is a group of industries dealing with agricultural produce. It may include chemicals used in agriculture, animal breeding, crop production, seed supply, marketing, and resale.
POVERTY:
Poverty is a severe economic and social problem in the community. Poverty persists due to lack of access to markets, inadequate public support, microenterprise through low-interest credit, skills training, widespread use of obsolete technologies in agriculture, and exploitation of poor communities by political elites.
Our communities are underserved. Businesses and people want to move to an area where they thrive. Competent PG could benefit from a rural program by promoting growth, economic development, and investments in the town. The PG, committees, and stakeholders could attract a project employing a minimum of 25 youths. Food crops such as cassava, rice, cashews, maize, yam, Plantain, and potatoes could be identified and cultivated. A town with adequate funding will make Plantain the leader in plantain production in Nigeria.
Competent PG and stakeholders should motivate women’s empowerment in the community. It could be done by increasing the participation of women in the labor market and reducing poverty. Trade has a vital role in driving this economic growth by women. Microfinance would be desirable for women when PG and stakeholders invest in low-income individuals in the banking service provided to low-income individuals or groups who otherwise find it difficult to obtain bank loans.
We need our children to live in the town and raise families comfortably instead of moving to the cities in search of better opportunities. Such investment would provide a much-needed boost.
Each community has people who could influence and have contacts with local government and State government personnel, the State House of Assembly staff, and members of the National Assembly related to the zone to attract investment in the community.
TIME OF CHANGE
President-general is a position of esteem. What we want is dignity, honor, truth, and respect. PG is the leader and is responsible for transforming the community. The participation of the members of the town is essential, including the executives and stakeholders, to uplift our people regarding education, health, business, poverty, and security. Prevent any crisis between the churches, Catholics, and Anglican or Pentecostal. And any denominations.
Each son or daughter can believe in her or his religion. However, a town is an eternity; everyone shall die, but the town will remain forever. Therefore, we must sink our religious differences and continue to work for the unity of our community. PG and stakeholders must work together to ensure religious conflict is nipped in the bud.
Our educators and support staff do so much for our kids but cannot do it alone. Our community can and must play a role in making a difference in our children’s lives, producing authentic and meaningful connections with the children in a significant way to create change. What could your town do to have the best academic students in the State? They are the best football players in the State—and other sports.
Many kids find school the safest place in their lives, and the caring adults who show up to build mentoring make a huge difference. Each town could develop programs focusing on mentoring and academic support, such as Math Wiz, Read Buddies, Book Club, and Basic computer training.
PG and the stakeholders shall establish relationships with the Local Government Area and State government staff. As well as have consistent contact with the State House of Assembly members and our Representatives in both Houses for support.
To be effective, the PG and the stakeholders shall continue to seek ideas from community members, ask questions, and honestly answer them.
Raising money is the most important way to execute the town’s various projects. PG and the executives shall develop plans and methods to seek contributions from our citizens to ensure our projects are in progress.
The best way to raise funds is to reach the citizens of the towns no matter where they are. PG should be personal and have the Secretary write a letter (WhatsApp) to the individual explaining the fund’s purpose and the project’s cost.
Community members will be happy that the PG has reached out to them. The town should have a website; it is a network that could reach community citizens anywhere in the world. A community member in business in Malaysia may promote their business.
HEALTH:
One way to support a town is to cut poverty by ensuring primary health care. The town needs to improve maternity care, and each community must have adequate maternity care. A person’s ability to have a healthy pregnancy and healthy birth should not be dictated by where they live and their ability to access consistent quality care. Being pregnant and giving birth to thousands in the towns is reportedly dangerous.
The most significant problem facing health centers is inconsistent power supply. The result is that there would be no vaccines for children and pregnant women. The vaccines in the refrigerator are damaged and ineffective. A solar refrigerator is necessary to store vaccines. It works 24/7. These vaccines should be administered to a child within 24 hours of birth; oral polio is the first dose to prevent polio – bacilli Calmette-Guerin to prevent tuberculosis or leprosy, the leading cause of death.
The President General and the stakeholders should work with the local governments and the philanthropists in the town to have sound maternity care. The health center should be ultra-modern, consisting of a doctor’s office, children’s hall, women’s hall, and men’s hall. Nurses’ quarters must be available.
The PG must constantly interact with traditional leaders, religious leaders, governmental agencies, Nongovernmental organizations, and Foundations to seek financial assistance. The purpose is to enhance families’ progress, senior citizens, widows, and widowers who need help. We have to show love and compassion to those in need.
PG must be in regular contact with the LGA chairperson and indicate needs. There would be a follow-up. The LGA chair cannot read the President General’s mind if you want to support or collaborate. The best way to ask for help is to share what you need and the reasons for the project. You may ask the LGA chair to provide funds for the construction of the cassava factory. It is estimated that 70% of the cassava produced in Nigeria is processed into gari. As a result, garri is the most commonly traded cassava product. The reason is to employ a minimum of 25 youths.
For a seamless administration, a sitting PG should at all times seek the support of his predecessors. We greatly need their input to make the town excel. During the ex-PG administrations, they identified strengths and weaknesses. It is pertinent the Ex-PGs give excellent ideas on how to move our towns forward. The current PG should plan to meet with the ex-PG two or three times per year. They may use Zoom or teleconference and WhatsApp conference.
The most important is the Constitution. The Constitution shall be reviewed every five years, and necessary amendments incorporated. The Constitution should ensure those who make decisions on behalf of the community fairly represent the town’s people. It also helps those in the administration be held accountable to the people they serve. If the Constitution is properly planned and written, we should know when those in authority abuse their powers.
People who love our town can solve many problems through creative ideas, a desire to work hard to make a change, and stakeholders’ commitment. PG is a robust and respectful position. The PG shall have a strong vision for the community to spend more time on the town’s affairs. Having the courage to make unpopular decisions can manage success during a crisis.
PG should clarify what they plan to do, listen to others who want to be heard, value ideas, and show passion and compassion to the people. Listen more than talk and ask for feedback; evaluate self. However, PG needs to be paid more and will always be passionate about working with stakeholders to enhance the community.
Transparency is the primary factor that makes or breaks a town. Community transparency means that the PG shall have open communication between leadership and projects in the community. PG should share expectations, mistakes, setbacks, revisions, and expenses with community members.
PG and the committees shall recommend audits to be conducted every two years. The report is essential to determine whether the financial statements present an accurate and fair view of the community expenses and income for the year. In addition, an internal audit is necessary to detect violations of laws, regulations, and provisions of contracts and agreements.
The biggest problem facing any community is the need for land. Time had passed when families gave away lands free to the town.
Communities must prepare to obtain lands by purchase and agreements. Communities need land to build playgrounds and parks. PG and stakeholders must set up an Endowment Fund to acquire hectares of land for 200 million naira in the next ten years. PG and stakeholders should consult experts in business, such as banking and financial institutions.
President, Community Health Awareness of Oklahoma
www.communityhealthawarenessok.org