CHRISTMAS IN ABA…BEYOND THE DECORATIONS BY SIR ONYEBUCHI EMEMANKA

This year, the Yuletide Season will be different in Aba. Something different has happened. To others, especially those who live in places like Lagos and Port Harcourt, this may mean nothing but for us here, it’s something different. Refreshingly different.
Few days ago, the people of Aba were delighted as they, for the very first time ever, witnessed the official lightening of the Christmas decorations in their town. Today, if you enter Aba at night, from the Osisioma Junction all the way to almost the Railway crossing, you will find a long stretch of beautiful decorations that reminds you that Christmas is here.

I remember my Lagos days. I worked in two organizations for the seven years I spent there. The two organizations had their head offices in Victoria Island where I worked. There is a street called Ajose Adeogun in VI. It stretches from the Eko Hotel Roundabout all the way down to Ligali Ayorinde junction. On that street is the imposing headquarters of Zenith Bank Plc. As part of their corporate social responsibility, the bank undertakes the decoration of Ajose Adeogun street every year. Then at that Eko Hotel junction, you will see a breathtaking display of Christmas decorations. Very intimidating indeed. The decorations are as beautiful as they are imposing. Honestly, it’s a beauty to behold as they outdo themself every other year.
Other companies also decorate other junctions. I know that MTN decorates Falomo Roundabout at Ikoyi near their head office.

I always wondered why these things never happened here. Granted that, Aba and Umuahia don’t host headquarters of major corporate concerns but we have companies who have presence here.

Nigerian Breweries is one of them. From my checks, the company established their Aba Brewery in 1957!
Some of my uncles like Wajueko GeneralBahdman AkaOnyewetara , Onyi Okadike and Ogbuehi Omeiheukwu worked there before the war.

So how come, you don’t see this massive company doing such things in Aba. I know that near their headquarters in Lagos at Iganmu, they decorate the area so well.

So, I was delighted to find out that AMSTEL MALTA, made by Nigerian Breweries is the brain behind the beautiful Christmas decorations in Aba. What they did at Brass Junction is simply beautiful. Every night, people go there to take pictures. People are happy.

But this is beyond mere decorations. It’s something more significant. Something deeper.

It signifies a paradigm shift of mega proportions. It is a sign that we have entered an era defined by STRATEGIC COLLABORATION with the private sector. It shows that for the first time, there is a fresh confidence by private sector players in the state.
How come that since 1957 when Nigerian Breweries opened their Aba Brewery, this is the first time they are doing this. They must have seen something different.

This paradigm shift is also a clear window of what lies ahead. You will see that this will jumpstart a chain of more collaborations that will increase the decorations by next Christmas and ultimately translate into bigger things for the economy of our state.

Before now, even banks usually do very sparse decorations in their offices here. That will change from next year. Just watch and see. Other organizations will pick other roads in Aba and Umuahia for decoration. I know that Port Harcourt Road will witness it next year.
Watch our for 7up Bottling Company and Geometric Power from next year. They will seek to outdo each other in a healthy competition for STRATEGIC VISIBILITY here.

This is the Otti Magic on display. The guys in Corporate Nigeria have seen one of their own, a man they know. A man they trust.
Even local businesses here will catch the buzz and do their bit.

So while you see beautiful Christmas decorations, we see new STRATEGIC windows of economic development.

Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka (Ururu Aja) is the Director General of the Abia State Strategic Communications Bureau.