Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has said some youths trained under the state’s TechRise digital skills programme are already working for global technology companies, including Google and Amazon, from Aba.

Otti disclosed this while outlining his administration’s efforts to reposition Abia from conventional trading to manufacturing and digital commerce, saying the shift would enable local entrepreneurs to compete in the global market.

Otti stated this during the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia on Monday night.

The event, themed “The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo,” brought together Igbo leaders, business executives, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for the development of the South-East.

The governor said Abia, historically known for its commercial activities, was deliberately transitioning from traditional physical markets to manufacturing and technology-driven business models.

Responding to concerns over the increasing presence of Chinese traders competing with Igbo entrepreneurs in Lagos, Otti said his administration was encouraging a shift towards digital commerce.

“We are leaving that place of trading. In Abia, we have markets; the markets are important. But we are moving from the market to manufacturing. So, this Government is supporting manufacturing. We are driving digital delivery. We are leaving that physical store for digital delivery,” he said.

According to him, the state is moving towards a business model that combines manufacturing with digital trading, adding that entrepreneurs must embrace technology to remain competitive.

“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 then trading. But we are moving from conventional trading to digital trading. That’s where the world is going. You either embrace it or you risk being left behind,” Otti stated.

The governor also highlighted his administration’s investment in digital skills development through the TechRise initiative, saying some young people trained under the programme were already working for international technology companies from Aba.

“When I spend money here training my young people in digital technology under the TechRise initiative, I know what I am doing. Some of them are already working for Google and Amazon from Aba,” he said.

Otti added that the state was determined to expand the role of technology in business and economic development.

On the significance of the celebration, the governor described the theme, “Njikọ Ka,” meaning “Unity is Supreme,” as appropriate, stressing the importance of unity in diversity.

He assured the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide of his administration’s support and said Abia had laid a solid foundation for development.

“We have retrieved and recovered our State. And the only way to go is up. Once you have laid the foundation, the only way to go is up,” he said.

In his keynote address delivered virtually, the Chairman of the Igbo Charter Committee for Strategic Engagement for National Development, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, called for the adoption of the Igbo Charter as a non-partisan development roadmap guided by merit, accountability and measurable targets.

Moghalu identified key priorities, including the promotion of the Igbo language, establishment of a digital marketplace, stronger diaspora engagement, improved security and investment, and a shift from dependence on remittances to productive investments.

He also advocated true federalism, equitable citizenship and the devolution of powers, urging Ndigbo to move from discussions to practical implementation.

Moghalu described Otti as “one of our best.”

In his welcome address, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, said the lecture and dinner was organised to harness the collective strength of Ndigbo through a unified development strategy.

He noted that despite their individual achievements, entrepreneurial spirit and resilience, the Igbo people had yet to fully realise their collective potential.

Azuta-Mbata said the Igbo Charter for Strategic Engagement for National Development, developed by more than 67 Igbo technocrats and business leaders, provides a framework for engaging the Nigerian state and the international community.

He said the charter seeks to protect Igbo culture, particularly the language, and proposed that Igbo be made compulsory in primary and secondary schools across Igboland.

The Ohanaeze leader also called on the Federal Government to pursue a political solution to the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, urged Ndigbo to unite and take practical steps towards developing Ala Igbo.

“We must look forward to building a brighter future, moving beyond complaining about those who won’t give us our due, to taking our destiny in our own hands,” Ugochukwu said.

He commended Otti for his administration’s governance efforts in Abia and praised the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for sustaining the annual observance of Igbo Day.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has said some youths trained under the state’s TechRise digital skills programme are already working for global technology companies, including Google and Amazon, from Aba.

Otti disclosed this while outlining his administration’s efforts to reposition Abia from conventional trading to manufacturing and digital commerce, saying the shift would enable local entrepreneurs to compete in the global market.

Otti stated this during the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia on Monday night.

The event, themed “The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo,” brought together Igbo leaders, business executives, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for the development of the South-East.

The governor said Abia, historically known for its commercial activities, was deliberately transitioning from traditional physical markets to manufacturing and technology-driven business models.

Responding to concerns over the increasing presence of Chinese traders competing with Igbo entrepreneurs in Lagos, Otti said his administration was encouraging a shift towards digital commerce.

“We are leaving that place of trading. In Abia, we have markets; the markets are important. But we are moving from the market to manufacturing. So, this Government is supporting manufacturing. We are driving digital delivery. We are leaving that physical store for digital delivery,” he said.

According to him, the state is moving towards a business model that combines manufacturing with digital trading, adding that entrepreneurs must embrace technology to remain competitive.

“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 then trading. But we are moving from conventional trading to digital trading. That’s where the world is going. You either embrace it or you risk being left behind,” Otti stated.

The governor also highlighted his administration’s investment in digital skills development through the TechRise initiative, saying some young people trained under the programme were already working for international technology companies from Aba.

“When I spend money here training my young people in digital technology under the TechRise initiative, I know what I am doing. Some of them are already working for Google and Amazon from Aba,” he said.

Otti added that the state was determined to expand the role of technology in business and economic development.

On the significance of the celebration, the governor described the theme, “Njikọ Ka,” meaning “Unity is Supreme,” as appropriate, stressing the importance of unity in diversity.

He assured the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide of his administration’s support and said Abia had laid a solid foundation for development.

“We have retrieved and recovered our State. And the only way to go is up. Once you have laid the foundation, the only way to go is up,” he said.

In his keynote address delivered virtually, the Chairman of the Igbo Charter Committee for Strategic Engagement for National Development, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, called for the adoption of the Igbo Charter as a non-partisan development roadmap guided by merit, accountability and measurable targets.

Moghalu identified key priorities, including the promotion of the Igbo language, establishment of a digital marketplace, stronger diaspora engagement, improved security and investment, and a shift from dependence on remittances to productive investments.

He also advocated true federalism, equitable citizenship and the devolution of powers, urging Ndigbo to move from discussions to practical implementation.

Moghalu described Otti as “one of our best.”

In his welcome address, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, said the lecture and dinner was organised to harness the collective strength of Ndigbo through a unified development strategy.

He noted that despite their individual achievements, entrepreneurial spirit and resilience, the Igbo people had yet to fully realise their collective potential.

Azuta-Mbata said the Igbo Charter for Strategic Engagement for National Development, developed by more than 67 Igbo technocrats and business leaders, provides a framework for engaging the Nigerian state and the international community.

He said the charter seeks to protect Igbo culture, particularly the language, and proposed that Igbo be made compulsory in primary and secondary schools across Igboland.

The Ohanaeze leader also called on the Federal Government to pursue a political solution to the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, urged Ndigbo to unite and take practical steps towards developing Ala Igbo.

“We must look forward to building a brighter future, moving beyond complaining about those who won’t give us our due, to taking our destiny in our own hands,” Ugochukwu said.

He commended Otti for his administration’s governance efforts in Abia and praised the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for sustaining the annual observance of Igbo Day.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has said some youths trained under the state’s TechRise digital skills programme are already working for global technology companies, including Google and Amazon, from Aba.

Otti disclosed this while outlining his administration’s efforts to reposition Abia from conventional trading to manufacturing and digital commerce, saying the shift would enable local entrepreneurs to compete in the global market.

Otti stated this during the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia on Monday night.

The event, themed “The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo,” brought together Igbo leaders, business executives, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for the development of the South-East.

The governor said Abia, historically known for its commercial activities, was deliberately transitioning from traditional physical markets to manufacturing and technology-driven business models.

Responding to concerns over the increasing presence of Chinese traders competing with Igbo entrepreneurs in Lagos, Otti said his administration was encouraging a shift towards digital commerce.

“We are leaving that place of trading. In Abia, we have markets; the markets are important. But we are moving from the market to manufacturing. So, this Government is supporting manufacturing. We are driving digital delivery. We are leaving that physical store for digital delivery,” he said.

According to him, the state is moving towards a business model that combines manufacturing with digital trading, adding that entrepreneurs must embrace technology to remain competitive.

“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 then trading. But we are moving from conventional trading to digital trading. That’s where the world is going. You either embrace it or you risk being left behind,” Otti stated.

The governor also highlighted his administration’s investment in digital skills development through the TechRise initiative, saying some young people trained under the programme were already working for international technology companies from Aba.

“When I spend money here training my young people in digital technology under the TechRise initiative, I know what I am doing. Some of them are already working for Google and Amazon from Aba,” he said.

Otti added that the state was determined to expand the role of technology in business and economic development.

On the significance of the celebration, the governor described the theme, “Njikọ Ka,” meaning “Unity is Supreme,” as appropriate, stressing the importance of unity in diversity.

He assured the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide of his administration’s support and said Abia had laid a solid foundation for development.

“We have retrieved and recovered our State. And the only way to go is up. Once you have laid the foundation, the only way to go is up,” he said.

In his keynote address delivered virtually, the Chairman of the Igbo Charter Committee for Strategic Engagement for National Development, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, called for the adoption of the Igbo Charter as a non-partisan development roadmap guided by merit, accountability and measurable targets.

Moghalu identified key priorities, including the promotion of the Igbo language, establishment of a digital marketplace, stronger diaspora engagement, improved security and investment, and a shift from dependence on remittances to productive investments.

He also advocated true federalism, equitable citizenship and the devolution of powers, urging Ndigbo to move from discussions to practical implementation.

Moghalu described Otti as “one of our best.”

In his welcome address, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, said the lecture and dinner was organised to harness the collective strength of Ndigbo through a unified development strategy.

He noted that despite their individual achievements, entrepreneurial spirit and resilience, the Igbo people had yet to fully realise their collective potential.

Azuta-Mbata said the Igbo Charter for Strategic Engagement for National Development, developed by more than 67 Igbo technocrats and business leaders, provides a framework for engaging the Nigerian state and the international community.

He said the charter seeks to protect Igbo culture, particularly the language, and proposed that Igbo be made compulsory in primary and secondary schools across Igboland.

The Ohanaeze leader also called on the Federal Government to pursue a political solution to the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, urged Ndigbo to unite and take practical steps towards developing Ala Igbo.

“We must look forward to building a brighter future, moving beyond complaining about those who won’t give us our due, to taking our destiny in our own hands,” Ugochukwu said.

He commended Otti for his administration’s governance efforts in Abia and praised the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for sustaining the annual observance of Igbo Day.