Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged Igbo entrepreneurs to abandon over-reliance on conventional trading and move into manufacturing, technology and digital commerce to stay competitive in the changing global economy.
Otti spoke on Monday night at the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in Umuahia.
His call came against the backdrop of growing concerns over the increasing presence of Chinese traders in Nigeria’s retail sector, particularly in Lagos, where Igbo traders have historically played a major role.
Rather than engage in a struggle for control of physical markets, Otti said Ndigbo should change their business model and compete through manufacturing and technology.
“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 deliberately positioning Abia as a manufacturing and technology hub while encouraging young people to acquire digital skills.
He said the state was also moving from physical shops to online commerce, pointing to platforms such as Alibaba as an example of the direction global trade was taking.
“So, why are the Chinese coming to compete with us? We are moving away from there. And it’s going to start in Abia,” Otti said.
He added: “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.”
Otti also highlighted the state government’s TechRise initiative, saying young Abians trained under the programme were already securing jobs with global technology companies while working from Aba.
He assured Ohanaeze Ndigbo of his administration’s support and described the theme of the celebration, “Njikọ Ka” — meaning “Unity is Supreme” — as a timely reminder of the importance of unity among Ndigbo.
The governor said his administration had laid the foundation for further development in Abia, promising continued transformation of the state.
At the event, Ohanaeze President-General, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, also raised concerns over the growing Chinese presence in Lagos retail business and called for a more coordinated strategy to protect and expand Igbo economic interests.
Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, chairman of the Igbo Charter Committee for Strategic Engagement for National Development, delivered the keynote lecture.
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