By Sandra Kenneth
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has called on Igbo entrepreneurs to transition from traditional retail trading into manufacturing and digital commerce to maintain relevance and resilience in the evolving global marketplace.
Speaking in Umuahia during the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner hosted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Governor Otti addressed growing concerns over foreign market intrusion—particularly the rising influx of Chinese merchants competing directly with Igbo traders in major retail centers like Lagos.
Rather than attempting to shield conventional retail spaces from international rivalry, the governor urged businessmen across Ndigbo and Abia State to elevate their operations into production and technology-driven enterprise.
“Igbos are leaving that level of trading,” Otti declared. “In Abia, we have markets, and those markets are important. But we are moving from that level of marketing to manufacturing.”
He emphasized that embracing digital trade is no longer optional for local business owners seeking sustainable growth.
“Why are the Chinese coming to compete with us? We are moving away from there, and it is going to start in Abia,” Otti said. “Abia is combining both manufacturing and trading, but we are shifting from conventional methods to digital commerce. That is where the world is going. You either embrace it, or you risk being left behind.”
Highlighting ongoing state initiatives to build a tech-enabled workforce, Governor Otti noted that investment in youth skill development is already yielding dividends. Through the state’s TechRise initiative, several Abia youths are now remotely employed by global technology firms directly from Aba.
Commenting on the theme of this year’s celebration—“Njikọ Ka” (Unity is Supreme)—Governor Otti lauded Ohanaeze Ndigbo for promoting solidarity, reaffirming his administration’s support for the socio-cultural organization’s leadership and its vision for economic empowerment in the South-East region.
