Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged Igbo entrepreneurs to look beyond conventional retail trading and embrace manufacturing and digital commerce as the global business landscape continues to change.
Otti made the call on Monday in Umuahia during the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, themed The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo.
The governor said Abia and the wider Igbo business community had a long history of trading but needed to increasingly shift towards production and technology-driven commerce.
His comments came amid concerns among Nigerian traders about the growing presence of Chinese businesses in retail markets, particularly in Lagos.
Rather than focusing solely on competing with foreign retailers in conventional markets, Otti said Igbo entrepreneurs should reposition themselves by producing goods locally and taking advantage of digital platforms to reach customers.
We are leaving that level of trading. In Abia, we have markets. The markets are important. But we are moving from that level of marketing to manufacturing, the governor said.
He added that his administration was supporting manufacturing while promoting digital delivery, describing the shift from physical shops to online commerce as the direction in which global business was heading.
Otti also pointed to Alibaba as an example of the type of digital marketplace he believed Abia entrepreneurs could leverage to expand their businesses beyond traditional markets.
The governor said digital commerce would give Abia businesses an opportunity to compete internationally rather than remain dependent on physical shops and conventional trading structures.
He further disclosed that his administration was investing in digital skills through its TechRise initiative, noting that some young Abians trained under the programme were already working remotely for international technology companies from Aba.
Otti also stressed the importance of unity among Ndigbo, describing the theme of the event, “Njikọ Ka” — meaning “Unity is Supreme” — as a reflection of the need for collective development.
He assured the Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership that his administration would continue supporting initiatives aimed at advancing the development of Abia and the wider South-East.
