Gov Otti Pledges Better Partnership Deal With Ethnocentrique LTD, As Abia Govt Sets To Upscale Skills In Fashion Design, Manufacturing & Export Sectors

..Gov Directs CoS Ajagba, Others, To Liaise With the Fashion Outfit To Address Proposed Needs

...All in this edition of the Good Leadership and Governance Series With Dr. Charles Ogugbuaja (GLGSWDCO 122)

By Charles Ogugbuaja, Ph.D.

Determined to take fashion design and manufacturing competitively healthy, and export - oriented in Abia State, His Excellency, Gov Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has approved a deeper partnership between the State Government and Ethnocentrique Limited, to achieve the goal.

The approval, in principle, was made on Tuesday, September 16, 2026, when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Ethnocentrique Limited, Mrs. Irunna Ejibe, led other officials of the organisation to visit the Governor at his office.

He informed his guests that he was very passionate about growing fashion production and developing specialized skills in order to position the state as a destination hub.

At the meeting attended by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D., among others, Gov Otti directed his Chief of Staff, and the Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director of the Enyimba Automated Shoe Company (ENASCO) and Enyimba Garment Factory, Ms. Nnena Kalu Ogba, to meet with the Ethnocentrique team in order to work out details of the proposed partnership and determine specific government interventions required.

He stressed that his administration was deliberate in creating enabling environment for investments to take massive shape in the state, expressing gratitude that Ethnocentrique had achieved a standard height in its field, especially, in the work ethic, partnerships and measurable results, adding that the firm had worthy feat to enter into commensurate partnership with the Abia State Government.

“We believe that the best way to look for investors is to create the environment,” he said. 

The Governor expressed particular interest in the proposal presented to him by the Chief Executive of the form, capable of moving from skills training to large-scale industrial production, urging expansion of facilities and initiatives in Abia, rather than focusing on multiple branches outside the state, for the purposes of fixed costs and improve economies of scale.

“We don't need to reinvent the wheel. If you have something on ground, all you need to do is expand,” Gov Otti advised.

He cited an example of an investor who committed an additional $65 million to its operations in Abia State, recording successes, as a result.

“Instead of setting up everywhere in Africa, we can supply the whole of Africa from here. Let's even start from Africa,” he advised.

While disclosing that the State Government’s establishment of the Export Growth Lab, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), noting that the motive was primarily designed to support businesses with quality assurance and making locally produced goods export-ready.

Governor Otti posited that production capacity alone does not guarantee access to international markets, rather, standardisation and quality assurance played critical and pivotal roles to export success, with products required international standards.

“You can produce a billion in terms of quantity, but nobody will buy them,” he stressed.

The size of the Nigerian market, Gov Otti noted, showed huge opportunities for local manufacturers to replace imports, meeting domestic demands.

 

He assured that the State Government was prepared to support the firm grow, as electricity supply would play vital roles in the state.

Earlier, the CEO of Ethnocentrique Limited, Mrs. Irunna Ejibe, had commended Gov Otti for the massive transformation taking place in Abia State under his watch, particularly, in Aba, noting that the improvement in infrastructure and enthronement of good governance had renewed confidence among investors and development partners, coming into the state to invest.

Mrs. Ejibe said that while the government was rebuilding physical infrastructure, her organisation, in partnership with the government was focusing on "rebuilding intangible systems that support industrial growth – including human capital development, access to markets, organised clusters, finance, functional cooperatives and intellectual property."

She disclosed that under the programme, over 6,000 young people had been trained and certified, and supported with 4,240 small businesses through structured business advisory services; supported 1,460 mastercraft persons; trained 100 business development service providers, and generated over 11,000 direct and secondary jobs, including support for 2,240 female entrepreneurs.

She also disclosed that Ethnocentrique Limited had secured strong commitments from partners for a four-year scale-up  programme, targeting at least 20,000 additional young people in Abia State.

According to her, the scale-up, would move beyond basic fashion design skills, cascading to industrial production, adding that the participants would be equipped with the necessary competencies in industrial pattern making, grading, production management, line balancing, technical packs, sizing, export compliance, factory ethics and global supply chain practices, as focal areas.

Mrs. Ejibe added that the outfit was working towards establishing quality assurance companies in Abia, regretting major bottlenecks that are preventing local manufacturers from accessing international markets.

“Without quality assurance, we can't export,” she stressed.

She explained that trusted quality assurance systems would help de-risk Abia in the hands of the international buyers, positioning the State as a "compliant industrial hub."

Others at the meeting included, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole; the Commissioners for Industries and SMEs; Mazi Mike Akpara; Youth and Sports, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba; Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu;  Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Commerce, Chief Nwaka Inem, among others.

........

WRITER'S NOTE: His Excellency, Gov Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, is hugely passionate about development in all sectors. The partnership between the Abia State Government and Ethnocentrique Limited, no doubt, would grow the state industrially. God bless Gov Otti for the wisdom.

 

......

COUNTDOWN TO GOV OTTI'S RE-ELECTION, BY THE GRACE OF GOD

His Excellency, Gov Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has comfortably and meritoriously enjoyed his seat in the last three years and 109 days.

141 days are remaining  for the governorship campaign exercise to end, and subsequent reelection, by the Grace of God, of our workaholic and outstanding Abia Executive Governor.

Computed by Charles Ogugbuaja, Ph.D.

September 16, 2026

...........

WHAT GLGSWDCO DOES

At the Good Leadership and Governance Series with Dr. Charles Ogugbuaja (GLGSWDCO), we are research -based, non governmental, and an apolitical group, committed to serving you reliably, fresh, with insightful, vibrant, investigative, analytical and thought-provoking contents, spanning politics, social issues, giant strides that are going on in Abia State and beyond (pro bono); also, current affairs, and undiluted news, features and opinionated write -ups that shape our community and the world at large. Please stay connected with us.

ABOUT ABIA STATE

Abia, one of the 36 states in Nigeria, meaning the various blocs of Aba, Bende, Isiukwuato, and Afikpo (Afikpo is in Ebonyi State, now), was created in August 27, 1991, by the erstwhile military President of Nigeria, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), GCFR, fondly called IBB by his admirers, with its capital in Umuahia, designating Aba as a commercial hub / nerve centre. It was created alongside with Enugu, Delta, Kogi, Taraba, Kebi, Jigawa, Yobe and Osun States.

In the Southeast, Abia shares boundaries with Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra State, while in the South South flank, she shares boundaries with Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

Today, the state has 184 political wards, three senatorial districts (Abia South, Abia Central and Abia North); eight Federal Constituencies, 24 State Constituencies and 17 Local Government Areas.

Since the creation, the state has been ruled by five Military Administrators and five Civilian Governors, a total of 10. Those who have governed the state in the following succession are then Group Captain Frank Ajobena (August 28, 1991); the military ushered in civilian administration, leading to the election of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (January 1992); the military also, took over again, and appointed Col Ike Nwosu ((1993); Navy Captain Temi Ejoor (September 1994); Col. Moses Fasoya (August 1996); and Col. Anthony Obi, who eventually handed over to another civilian, after an election, Sen Orji Uzor Kalu in 1999( he governed for eight years). Sen Theodore A. Orji took over from Kalu in 2007, and served for eight years. He handed over to Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu in 2015. After eight years in power, the incumbent, Gov. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, took over in May 29, 2023.

The state has moved from the yesteryears of cankerworm, suffering years of heavy infrastructural deficit and policy summersaults, to the present glorious and liberated era under the watch of His Excellency, Gov Alex Chioma Otti, OFR. 

The legion of gigantic infrastructural revolution recorded under the Otti Administration are the construction / reconstruction of about 414 roads spread in the nooks and crannies of the state, including the construction of the over 5km Port Harcourt Road in Aba; the reconstruction of the popular Omenuko Bridge; the reconstruction of Umuahia- Uzuakoli- Abiriba -Ohafia Road; the reconstruction of the Abam- Ndiokereke - Arochukwu Road; the expansion of the Aguiyi - Ironsi Boulevard to Onuimo; reconstruction, retrofitting, equipping and functionalisation of Primary healthcare centres, numbering about 277; building and equipping some General and Specialist Hospitals; construction (ongoing) of the Abia Airport, in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA; construction of the expansive modern  Prof. Nnenna Otti Bus Terminal, Umuahia; while that of Aba will be commissioned in December 2026. Workers and Pensioners receive their salaries and pensions, respectively, on or before the 28th of the month, among numerous projects ongoing.

Dr. Ogugbuaja, an advocate of good governance, leadership, and a deep supporter of good governance in Abia State, holds  a B.Sc. (Mass Comm), an M.Sc. (Mass Comm), an M.Sc. (International Affairs & Diplomacy); a Ph.D. (Mass Comm); a PGDE; a Certified Teacher (TRCN); a Dip. (Desktop & Graphics,IMSU), a Cert.(Biz Mgt. & Enterpre., IMSU), a Cert.(Population & Demography studies, IMSU); & a three -year Cert. Prog(Printing, FG sponsored).

September 16, 2026