Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says his administration is repositioning the state from its traditional reliance on physical trading towards manufacturing and technology-driven commerce.
Otti stated this on Monday in Umuahia during the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, where he spoke on the theme, “The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo.”
The governor said although Abia and the wider Igbo community had historically built strong commercial networks through trading, the state was now focusing on manufacturing and digital business.
He explained that the government was supporting manufacturers while encouraging entrepreneurs to embrace digital platforms that would enable them to reach customers beyond conventional physical markets.
According to Otti, the shift is intended to position Abia businesses to compete in the global marketplace rather than remain dependent on traditional shops and markets.
He pointed to the global growth of e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba as an indication of the direction in which commerce is heading, saying Abia entrepreneurs must adapt to the changing business environment.
The governor also highlighted the administration’s investment in digital skills for young people through its TechRise initiative.
He said some Abians who had undergone training under the programme were already working remotely for international technology companies while based in Aba.
Otti maintained that Abia’s future economic development would combine its manufacturing strength with technology and digital commerce.
He further assured the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of his administration’s continued support, describing the theme of the celebration, “Njikọ Ka”, meaning “Unity is Supreme”, as important to the development of the South-East.
The governor said his administration had established a foundation for further development and expressed confidence that Abia would continue to record significant transformation.
