Gov. Otti Committed to Positioning Abia as a Globally Respected Manufacturing Brand – Ajagba

The Chief of Staff to the Abia State Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, has reaffirmed that Governor Alex Otti is deliberately working to transform Abia from a local production hub into a globally respected manufacturing brand.

He made this known on Tuesday during the flag-off ceremony of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Competitiveness and Industrial Productivity Programme (MCIPP) Quality Assurance Assessors (QAA) Training Programme. The event was held at the main auditorium of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.

Ajagba emphasized that the governor’s drive to rebrand and enhance the quality of “Made-in-Aba” products is strategic and forward-looking. He noted that the training of Quality Assurance Assessors is a bold and purposeful step toward repositioning Abia—particularly Aba—as a centre of excellence in fashion, garment, and leather production, both nationally and across Africa.

He further stated that the state government remains committed to fostering an enabling environment for businesses to thrive through improved infrastructure, supportive policies, access to finance, and strict quality standardisation.

The Chief of Staff also expressed appreciation to project partners and facilitators, including Ethnocentrique Limited and the MasterCard Foundation, for their collaboration and technical expertise. He urged the trainees to approach the programme with dedication, discipline, and integrity, stressing that the initiative’s success largely depends on how effectively they apply the knowledge gained. He also encouraged MSME operators to fully embrace the programme.

In his remarks, the MCIPP Team Lead, Adedapo Conde, described the Quality Assurance Assessors Programme as a vital component of the MCIPP. He explained that it is designed to strengthen the skills ecosystem and support the transformation of Aba into a globally recognised hub for skills development and export.

Conde added that the programme would also serve as an avenue for direct engagement with participants, providing deeper insights into the initiative and other strategic efforts by the state government to boost the growth and competitiveness of MSMEs.

He commended Governor Otti for his visionary leadership and reiterated Ethnocentrique Limited’s commitment to partnering with the state government in achieving its goal of positioning Aba as a globally recognised skills and export hub.

The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including the Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry and SMEs, Mrs. Chinwe Kalu Uba; the Rector of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Dr. Christopher Okoro; and other notable stakeholders. The event also featured the presentation of CAC and SMEDAN certificates to business owners.