By Peter Dibia (08137847696)
Utilizing avenue for internally generated revenue by any democratic government is always germane and cannot be overemphasized hence such will help the government to achieve more developmental projects that will strengthen economy and good living in the society.
Indeed, the market is not only used for revenue generation, but also helps in the creation of employment and empowerment opportunities for the people whose means of livelihood largely dependent on agricultural production, admissible environment for industry and commerce.
The Wikipedia defines “market as a composition of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations or infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services to buyers in exchange for money”.
The Wikipedia stressed that marketing helps consumers to know more about new products and services available in the market and its usefulness to the customer, increases national income. Hence every economy revolves around marketing, production and finance to the industry.
The online dictionary further explains that marketing is a process through which business and organization promote themselves and their products by maintaining communication with potential customers. “Marketing promotes work and increases activity for the purpose of welfare of the society”.
Fundamentally, marketing is very important for the welfare of society. Marketing helps any country to run its economical system easily and it gathers the power of the economical strength for society improvement.
What prompted this writeup is my visit to some places and markets in Imo State where Governor Hope Uzodimma’s government is yet to touch, not only for the benefit of Ndi Imo, but also for revenue generation of the state for even development to attract good living.
One of those places is the Egbeada International Market popularly called Rochas Market located at Amakohia near Ohii Junction of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
Upon my visit to the place, I noticed with dismay how this market that ought to have created job opportunities through employment, internally generated revenue for the state is being wasted. This market was built during the Rescue Mission administration.
One thing about government is that- government is a continuous process- which means- any individual whom power is handed over to, should be able to weigh the uncompleted projects of his predecessor, take the good ones and discard the bad ones, as to consolidate good governance.
It is on record that Egbeada International Market was built by state money and should not be allowed to waste. Government should come in and harness the market to generate more revenue to assist it drive development. The rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery of Imo State can be realized if government of the day does the needful by investing hugely in commerce, industry and agriculture.
The market has over 5,000 shops and no meaningful activities are going on there. There is every indication that the people of the underworld may be using the market as a hideout. The Bible makes us to understand that an idle mind is a devil’s workshop.
On the other way round, an empty building filled with bushes will create opportunity for hoodlums to use it to commit their nefarious activities.
Of note, Imo people are crying of insecurity, hardship, poverty, hunger and nobody knows where hoodlums are, but such a bushy place could be a hideout and yet unknown to the people.
There is need for the government to look into Egbeada International Market and utilize it properly for the benefit of Imo people who have been yearning for viable commerce and industry, entrepreneurship and empowerment.
Your Excellency, my write up today is to draw your attention to this market. Once it becomes functional, it will be a source of joy that such a place is operational for the good of all and in return will create revenue for our dear state and the revenue generated from there will help you achieve more developmental projects.
Being a journalist, gives me the opportunity to perform my role as a watchdog of the society. Please, your Excellency, it will be bad if such a place is built with tax payers money and it will be allowed by your government to waste. Remember, you are on a journey to rehabilitate, reconstruct and recover Imo State from its lost glory. This simply means that, if the Egbeada International Market is rehabilitated, reconstructed and recovered it will boost the economy of the state.
As a business tycoon, your Excellency, I have no doubt in me that you will look into this market and do the needful by recovering it.
Conclusively, many will agree with me that market plays important role in developing the society. So, market activities do not only develop the economy of a country that values its richness, but also improves the living conditions and standards of the people whose well-being and welfare should be paramount to government.
