Soludo said Ndigbo were succeeding as individuals but noted that there was a collective vacuum, which prevented individual success from translating into significant collective progress.
The governor stated this while delivering his speech as a special guest at the TEDxEnugu conference held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu State, stressing the urgent need for the people to reconnect with their homeland.
In a press statement released on Saturday, Soludo’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, said the high-profile gathering featured the Anambra State governor as a special guest.
According to Aburime, Soludo delivered a thought-provoking address titled “Transcend Beyond Borders: The Next Chapter in the Igbo Story,” calling for a fundamental mindset shift and strategic reorientation among Ndigbo worldwide.
The statement partly read, “The Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, called for a fundamental mindset shift and self-review among Ndigbo, urging a transition from fragmented individual hustle to structured collective institutions.
“Ndigbo are succeeding as individuals, but there is a collective vacuum. Our individual success does not lead to much until we unite collectively.
“Speaking before a packed audience at the International Conference Centre in Enugu, Soludo tackled the core theme by challenging young Ndigbo to rethink their approach to economic development and enterprise.”
Addressing the historic inclination of the Igbo people as an itinerant group, the governor asked, “When are we going to go beyond ‘Okonkwo and Sons’ to ‘Enugu Plc’?”
Soludo noted that while Ndigbo excel as an itinerant tribe across every corner of the world, individual brilliance had created disparity rather than lasting regional clout.
He insisted that true power lay in organising talent into sustainable institutional structures.
Acknowledging that over 50 per cent of the Igbo population lives outside the South-East, Soludo stressed the urgent need to reconnect with the homeland.
The governor urged the region to clean up its backyard and focus on creating economic powerhouses, remarking, “We should be busy creating millions of Elon Musks.”
Advocating a pragmatic approach to engaging Nigeria and the global economy, the governor urged the younger generation to “tone down the noise” and focus heavily on acquiring high-value knowledge, skills and strategic alliances.
Reflecting on his personal journey from private success to public service, the governor encouraged youth involvement in public affairs, saying, “Public service is the greatest form of philanthropy,” and urging the youth to build a new Ndigbo capable of adapting to an increasingly borderless world.
The governor concluded with an inspiring message to young innovators and entrepreneurs, reassuring them that “It is possible” to redefine the South-East’s trajectory.
“By shifting focus towards collective enterprise, talent development, and homeland investment, the governor expressed confidence that the Igbo story will transcend physical and economic borders,” the statement concluded.
Soludo’s address highlighted the urgent need to reclaim, clean up and rebuild the homeland, stating that moving past historical conflicts and political grievances required pragmatic engagement with both the Nigerian nation and the broader international community.
The governor urged the region to prioritise strategic organisation, economic diplomacy and a reduction in unproductive rhetoric in favour of actionable, long-term development.
The event, which also featured talks by Prof. Pat Utomi, concluded with a strong call to action for the global Igbo Diaspora to reconnect with their roots, leverage their collective capital and intentionally construct a modern, prosperous South-East region capable of sustaining future generations.
