The Head, Sexual Assault and Gender Based Violence Response Department of the Ministry of Justice, Ebonyi State, Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor has praised Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for opening up the State for different kinds of investments through his laudable people-oriented policies and projects.
She explained that the efforts of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru in the area of infrastructural development, Public Private Partnerships, Ease of doing business and hostings of both National and International events have aided investors’ interest in Ebonyi State.
Barr. Nwanchor who is one of the organizers of the just concluded 3rd Retreat for the Committee on the review of the Nigeria’s Laws in the Country appreciated the Governor and the State’s Attorney General for their contributions towards the success of the event.
She said: “In ensuring the success of this programme, we were able to carry the State along and get the support of the State, that in turn gave us an enabling environment; both ways the State Government was able to provide the financial and the enabling environment required for the receipt of visitors and provision of everything that we needed for the event.
“On the day of arrival, we were at the Airport on Tuesday when we received the AGF and his entourage to the State, including the presidential participants of the Committee for the Review of Nigerian Laws.
“They were well received, welcomed and accommodated in one of the best hotels in Ebonyi State. It wasn’t easy hosting them but then, the enabling environment provided by the Government and the Attorney General of the State made the event a huge success.”
According to her, all hands were on deck to ensure that the aim of the event was achieved against all odds.
“We were able to make calls to find out the calibre of people that will come and the accommodation provided for them. The highlight of the event was for the review committee to be able to do their review of the laws of the Country. They have been doing their work before now. This is actually the third retreat in that direction. They have actually been meeting in some other places.
“The key objectives of what they actually came to do in Ebonyi State was the review of our extant laws and, address the emerging challenges of the laws in existence. They were able to promote public participation during their stay.
“If you were at the event, you will discover that so many persons were in the hall as it was jammed. We were equally able to bring Student, Lawyers from the Ministry of Justice, NBA, and everybody to ensure that there was public participation in the ongoing reviews of Nigeria’s Laws.
“The State’s Attorney kept talking about codification of the laws, especially the M.O.U that the State is signing or has signed with LexisNexis, an international firm that is into the codification of Laws. The body supports States or countries to codify its laws.”
She pointed out that because of the hosting of the event in Ebonyi State, most participants came to her to find out more about the State and the efforts of the present administration in the area of infrastructural development.
“I was highly elated on the day of the Gala night at the Ecumenical centre as the participants were like, when they worked into the place, they said, is this place for us? This place is too beautiful. They kept saying, Ebonyi is so fine. Ebonyi is a beautiful place; this kind of edifice is in Ebonyi State and a whole lot.
“And all them were like madam, this place is so beautiful. We didn’t know that Ebonyi is so beautiful. It was great for me to hear visitors talking so highly of Ebonyi State. And so, they were very happy for all we have been doing in terms of refreshments, the feeding, the accommodation; they have been coming up to tell us that you people are great
“Technically the program came to an end as the Attorney General gave the closing remarks. We took them round the city for a kind of sightseeing. We took them to places like the Ebony State Fertilizer Company, the Airport and Ebonyi State Shopping Mall ahead of their departure.”
She further appreciated the Governor, the State and the State’s Attorney and Commissioner for Justice for aiding the success of the event.
“I want to specially appreciate my honourable Attorney General for his innovative capacity. He keeps improving our knowledge and capacity building in what we have never known as regarding our job.
“My special thanks goes to the Governor. I love what he is doing. Gradually, he is making Abakaliki city, a legal or a Law Tourism Centre, because every time you see outsiders coming into Ebonyi for Law Retreat and a whole lot of event.
“I am sure that with this way that we are going, it won’t be long Ebonyi State will be hosting NBA in the near future. I equally want to appreciate the AGF, Prince Lateef for his love and understanding towards Ebonyi State. He is always available. Any time we call on him to be here, he is always here with us and we are grateful for it.
“I think with the way the Governor is going, he is opening up the State to become an investment hub for the South East and beyond. I am talking about LexisNexis; I am talking from the perspective of what I am expose to, that’s the legal profession
“If LexisNexis has actually gone into partnership with the Ebonyi State Government, that’s part of investment and for all the people that are coming into the town, they are now knowing that Ebonyi State is not as remote as people presume it to be.
“This is part of opening up Ebonyi State. People can now say, this is exactly what or how Ebonyi State looks like and these are the capacities inherent in the State and if I bring such and such down to Ebonyi State, it will thrive. And so, we have hosted alot of foreigners in this place and because of that, it will lead to lots of people bringing down their investments to the State, courtesy of what the Governor is doing in various facets of human endeavour.”