Soludo Blames South-East Sit-at-Home for Economic and Social Setback

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State says the sit-at-home directive in the South-East has created what he called a self-inflicted crisis that continues to hurt the region.

He stated this on Tuesday at the 6th Biennial Adada Lecture Series of the Association of Nsukka Professors held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Soludo said the prolonged enforcement of sit-at-home orders has resulted in loss of lives, disruption of economic activities, and capital flight, with businesses relocating to other parts of Nigeria due to insecurity.

Speaking on the theme “Our Future in Our Past: Intellectualism and the Making of African Renaissance,” the governor also criticised the limited impact of academic research on governance and societal development.

He urged scholars to engage more directly in solving real-world problems, insisting that intellectual work must translate into practical solutions.

“If you have hundreds of professors, why are our communities not comparable to more developed societies? We must move beyond the university walls. We produce journal articles, but how many influence policy? Intellectualism without action is ineffective,” he said.

According to him, sustainable development requires “productive intellectualism” where ideas are implemented to solve societal challenges.

Soludo reaffirmed that the South-East’s future is best secured within a united Nigeria, while highlighting efforts by his administration to reposition Anambra as a competitive economic hub through practical, innovation-driven governance.

He added that nations are shaped by ideas as much as by resources, citing influential figures like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Kwame Nkrumah, Ahmadu Bello, and Isaac Newton as examples of transformative thinkers.

Chairman of the association, Paulinus Ugwuoke, said the lecture theme reflects the resilience and contributions of the Igbo people within Nigeria’s federal structure, describing the South-East as a stronghold of commerce and innovation.

Senator Chuka Utazi, who represented Enugu North, encouraged Nsukka residents to use their voting strength to demand development and promoted vocational education and entrepreneurship.

Secretary of the planning committee, Chris Agbedo, said the lecture series serves as an intellectual platform to connect ideas with development outcomes, stressing that sustainable progress depends on effective use of intellectual capital.

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