Abia State Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu has restated the state government’s commitment in creating an enabling environment for all shades of businesses to continue to thrive effectively.
Engr. Emetu who stated this during a One Day Stakeholders Engagement Forum organized by the Abia State Structure for Signages and Advertisement Agency ABSAA, held at the Aba Town Hall, noted that the administration of Governor Alex Otti in the state has made available, enablers that will enhance businesses and advertisement industries.
The Deputy Governor represented by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba while describing the theme of the meeting, “The Future of Outdoor Advertisement: Challenges and Prospects as apt, commended the MD/CEO of ABSAA, Lady Victoria Onwubuiko and her staff for the quality work they are doing in the state and for complimenting the giant strides of the governor across all facets of the state economy.
“The goal of advertising whether indoor or outdoor is to create awareness about goods and services and to stimulate patronage or demand. For demands to be sustainable, needs and expectations must be met and meeting the needs and expectations of customers reinforces demand.” he said.
He further disclosed that the state government is solely focused on turning Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state into an industrial hub by creating economic development through provision of infrastructure like good roads, security, creating business friendly policies in order to sustain the advertising industry.
Engr. Emetu explained that the administration of Governor Alex Otti in the state has been working assiduously in creating urbanization and sustaining Infrastructural growth, provision of leisure parks, eco-friendly markets and access roads to all these facilities in addition to having robust plans for digital transformations and creation of technology hubs in order to ensure that digital advertising thrives.
“There are also robust plans for the promotion of tourism in the state because when tourism is booming, visitors will be attracted to Abia and this supports advertising especially outdoor advertising.” He added.
The Deputy Governor further called on advertising industries and practitioners to support government initiatives through payment of their taxes and to seek for ways to help create positive narratives about Abia State and Made-in-Aba goods. He noted that this will add value to their clients who are mainly SMEs and help government create sustainable business environment.
In her address, the MD/CEO, Abia State Structure for Signages and Advertisement Agency ABSAA, Lady Victoria Onwubuiko explained that the annual stakeholders engagement forum which allows them to communicate government plans, hear from those they serve on how to serve them, also affords them the opportunity to learn from each other, address challenges, and forge new partnerships.
Lady Onwubiko while appreciating Governor Alex Otti and the stakeholders for their support, expressed joy over the significant transformation being witnessed in the state since the establishment of ABSAA via the advertising landscape, and called for more partnerships from well meaning individuals who are interested in investing in the outdoor space in Abia.
In his keynote address, the President, Outdoor Advertisement Association of Nigeria OAAN, Dr Shola Akinsiku, while applauding Governor Alex Otti for appointing a seasoned technocrat, Lady Victoria Onwubuiko as MD/CEO of ABSAA, also called on signage and advertisement practitioners across the state to continue to uphold professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
Dr Akinsiku further expressed optimism that the proposed Chartered Out-of-Home Media Practitioners of Nigeria Bill once passed into law will establish a regulatory body that will standardize practices, improve environmental safety, and professionalize the out-of-home advertising sector, which has operated for nearly a century without structured oversight.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Mr Emmanuel Okpechi maintained that every revenue generated from the state will be used for the development of the State and stressed the need for all to contribute for the good work to continue by paying their taxes.
Our correspondent reports that the one day stakeholders forum which featured goodwill messages from ACCIMA, CAN, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Outdoor Advertisement Practitioners Association of Nigeria, also attracted the presence of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Ease of Doing Business, Agbonma Uka Obasi, her Religious Affairs counterpart, Apostle Kenneth Wiper among other distinguished personalities.
