Barth Nnaji to Lead Ebonyi’s Industrialisation Drive as State Targets Power, Cement and Salt Revolution
Abakaliki, Nigeria – Ebonyi State has taken a bold step toward redefining its economic future with the inauguration of a 15-member Economic Committee on Industrialisation, chaired by former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji. The move signals Governor Francis Nwifuru’s intent to reposition the state as an industrial hub by tackling its most pressing constraints: inadequate power supply, underutilised solid mineral wealth, and dormant industrial assets.
Industrialisation Blueprint: From Power Deficits to Production Hubs
Governor Nwifuru underscored that Ebonyi remains one of the few states without sufficient energy to drive large-scale industrialisation. By appointing Prof. Nnaji, an internationally acclaimed power sector reformer, the administration is betting on technical expertise and credibility to craft a roadmap for stable, reliable energy.
The governor also tasked the committee with designing strategies to revive the Nigerian Cement Company (NIGERCEM), one of Ebonyi’s historic economic pillars, and to establish a second cement factory to meet growing domestic and regional demand.
In addition, Ebonyi’s untapped salt reserves, which earned it the sobriquet “Salt of the Nation,” will be prioritised with a view to creating a functional, modern salt production facility – a project that could place Ebonyi on the map as a key player in Nigeria’s agro-industrial value chain.
Harnessing Solid Minerals and Attracting Investment
With over a dozen underexploited solid mineral deposits including limestone, lead, zinc, and salt, Ebonyi’s industrialisation agenda hinges on building value chains that link resource extraction with local processing and export markets.
The committee, which includes leading economists, technocrats, and industrialists such as Dr. Edward Nkwegu and Chibuike Orogwu, will advise on how best to leverage these resources in its industrialisation drive while attracting private capital into the state’s industrial zone.
The Nnaji Factor: Power as the Catalyst for Growth
Prof. Barth Nnaji’s track record in Nigeria’s power sector – including his role in the landmark reforms of the early 2010s – makes him a strategic choice. His expertise is expected to provide actionable solutions for Ebonyi’s chronic energy deficit. Stable electricity will not only drive cement and salt production but also stimulate SME growth, agro-processing, and light manufacturing across the state.
Governance, Vision and Bold Choices
Governor Nwifuru described the appointment as part of his administration’s determination to surround itself with experienced industrialists and policy thinkers.
“We are the only state without the required energy for industrialisation. Your recommendations will help us solve this,” he told the committee.
Prof. Nnaji, in response, praised the governor’s courage and vision, pledging that the team would deliver practical strategies to unlock Ebonyi’s economic transformation.
BRANDECONOMY Takeaway
Ebonyi’s new economic committee reflects a growing recognition among subnational governments that industrialisation cannot be left to chance. With Prof. Barth Nnaji at the helm, the state is seeking to turn its salt, limestone and mineral wealth into jobs, factories and exports, powered by a sustainable energy framework. If successful, Ebonyi could evolve from a peripheral state to a blueprint for subnational industrial policy in Nigeria.
