Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged Igbo traders to adapt to changes in the global economy by shifting their focus from traditional commerce to manufacturing and digital trade.
Speaking on Monday in Umuahia at the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner hosted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Otti addressed concerns regarding foreign competitors entering domestic retail markets, particularly Chinese merchants competing with local traders in Lagos. He declared that Abia State is deliberately shifting its focus towards industrial production and technology-driven business models to bypass basic retail friction.
“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,” Otti said, adding that his administration is supporting manufacturing alongside digital delivery. “So, when somebody talked about Alibaba, that is exactly where we are headed.”
To back this economic pivot, the governor revealed that the state government is investing significantly in digital skills training for young people. Through the state’s TechRise initiative, several local youths operating out of Aba have already secured employment with international technology firms.
Otti warned that failing to embrace modern commerce risks leaving local businesses behind, reaffirming that his administration has established a firm foundation for ongoing state transformation.
“So, why are the Chinese coming to compete with us? We are moving away from there. And it’s going to start in Abia,” he stated. “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.”
The event was held under the broad theme, “The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo,” incorporating the motto “Njikọ Ka” (Unity is Supreme). Otti praised the central message of unity as timely and relevant to the region’s socio-economic goals, while offering assurances of his government’s continued support to the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.