Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming Aba into a globally competitive hub for fashion, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Governor Otti who made his feelings known during the Fashion Future program organized by Ethnocentrique Limited, held at Nobik Event Centre, 7-Up Road, Ogbor Hill Aba, highlighted the numerous strides taken by his administration to reposition Aba as the heartbeat of innovation and industrial growth within and outside the nation.
The Governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, emphasized that the sustained infrastructural upgrade, improved electricity supply, ongoing road construction and reconstruction efforts by his administration across the state especially in Aba including the rehabilitation of Osusu, Omuma and Port Harcourt Roads among others are geared towards improving access, boosting productivity, and restoring investor confidence in the Enyimba commercial city.
The State Chief Executive disclosed that these infrastructural developments are being complemented by strategic initiatives including the establishment of the Aba Export Growth Lab to equip local entrepreneurs with the tools, training, and support needed to access international markets.
He further urged the participants of the Fashion Future program to take the training seriously, focus on building strong business structures, enhance their product quality and embrace innovation, assuring that the state government will continue to provide the needed platforms and policies to support business growth.
In her address, the CEO of Ethnocentrique Ltd, Mrs Irunna Ejibe, represented by the Program Coordinator, Mr Jeremiah Ubunnama, said the MSMEs onboarding session is a critical engagement under the fashion future program implemented by Ethnocentrique Limited to formally integrate newly selected MSMEs into the program’s ecosystem, adding that the onboarding event marks the beginning of their journey towards structural enterprise growth, enhanced visibility and access to a broad range of business support services.
Mrs Ejibe disclosed that the bold initiative aims at training 5,000 young people and supporting 4,000 MSMEs across the garment, shoe, and leatherwork sectors, and commended the state government for providing more insights and opportunities for strategic collaboration that can promote access to finance and market, youth and women enterprise development, facilitate wealth generation and potentially lift millions of Abians out of poverty.
The event which featured paper presentations, question and answer sessions also attracted the presence of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen Aghukwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment Promotion and Private Public Partnerships, High Chief Green Amakwe, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr George Chidozie among other notable personalities.
