Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged Igbo entrepreneurs to move beyond traditional trading and invest more in manufacturing and digital commerce to compete effectively in the global economy.
Otti made the call on Monday in Umuahia while speaking at the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The event was held under the theme, “The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo.”
The governor said the entrepreneurial tradition of the Igbo people should evolve in response to changes in the global marketplace, stressing that Abia was already repositioning its economy towards manufacturing and technology.
He was responding to concerns over the growing presence of Chinese traders in Nigeria and their competition with Igbo traders, particularly in Lagos.
Otti said the solution was not to remain focused on conventional retail trading but to move into manufacturing and technology-enabled commerce.
“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,” he said.
The governor said his administration was supporting manufacturers while promoting digital platforms that would enable businesses to reach customers without relying entirely on physical shops.
“So, this government is supporting manufacturing and driving digital delivery. We are leaving that physical store for digital delivery. So, when somebody talked about Alibaba, that is exactly where we are headed,” he said.
Otti said the transition would enable Abia businesses to participate more actively in the international marketplace.
“So, why are the Chinese coming to compete with us? We are moving away from there. And it’s going to start in Abia.
“So, Abia is both manufacturing and trading. But we are moving from conventional trading to digital trading. That is where the world is going. You either embrace it, or you risk being left behind,” he said.
The governor also highlighted his administration’s investment in digital skills development, particularly for young people.
He said beneficiaries of the state’s TechRise initiative had acquired skills that enabled some of them to work for international technology companies while based in Aba.
Otti further assured the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of his administration’s continued support for the organisation.
He described the theme of the celebration, “Njikọ Ka”, which means “Unity is Supreme”, as appropriate, saying unity remained important to the collective development of the Igbo people.
The governor said his administration had established the foundation for sustained development in Abia, adding that the state would continue to witness transformation across various sectors.
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