As part of it’s drive towards sustainable economic growth and development, the Abia State Government on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The partnership is expected to attract technical support, strategic investments, and sustainable interventions in critical sectors such as Energy, Digitization, SMEs development, Industrial expansion which would further strengthen the State’s drive for inclusive growth and socio-economic transformation.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at Nvosi Isialangwa South, Governor Alex Otti who thanked the UNDP for it’s support so far, noted that his administration is commitment to ensuring that the agreement delivers tangible benefits for the people of the State.
“
“For us, this MoU marks a significant milestone in our journey. It means clearly that we can count on your support because we have a document.
“I want to say that I want to invest all my energy in this framework. We will go about to do what we have to do to ensure that we do not let you down”, he declared.
Governor Otti who stated that “the essence of government is the welfare and security of the people”, emphasised the State Government commitment in creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
The Governor described the launch of the Aba Export Growth Lab as a critical step towards ensuring Abia’s products are competitive on the global stage.
“It was clear to us that if we do support our people in the fabrics and other things, we will be at such a competitive level that the world will begin to look.
“That is the essence of the Export Growth Lab that we get our products refined in a situation where they can compete internationally.
“We need to see Abia’s products outside the shelves of this country,” he added.
Also speaking, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms Elsie Attafuah said the agreement focuses on SMEs development, Digitalization, Energy and Industrial expansion
Ms Attafuah described the partnership as historic and commended Governor Otti for his visionary leadership.
She noted that her team had returned to Abia with a larger delegation to underscore the UNDP’s commitment to the partnership.
“Your Excellency, on behalf of UNDP, indeed the United Nations as a whole, let me say how proud we are of you for the vision that you have, for the exemplary leadership.
“Increasingly, Abia is showing the way as an epitome of the subnational that is really doing what matters, and particularly in times like this”, she stated.
Ms Attafuah highlighted that the MoU was the first landmark agreement signed by the UNDP with a Nigerian State under its Integrated Smart State of Accelerated Development framework.
She expressed optimism that the partnership would serve as a model for other States and pledged the UNDP’s continued support for Abia’s development agenda.
“So we are here for the signing of the MoU, but also secondly to support you as we launch the Aba Export Growth Lab today. I think Aba is showing us the way, and we believe Aba is going to provide the economic renaissance that Africa needs”, Ms Attafua said.
She disclosed that the UNDP had already earmarked catalytic funding for the Export Growth Lab adding that other senior UNDP officials were closely monitoring the progress in Abia.
Earlier the Chief Strategist to the Governor, Mr Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, described the agreement as the culmination of months of constructive engagement to fine-tune the framework for collaboration adding the it would serve as the framework guiding their joint commitment.
“As the Director of this district, I have led these engagements to ensure that we build a robust and practical framework for cooperation with the UNDP, fully aligned with the New Abia Agenda”, he stated.
Mba-Uzoukwu disclosed that extensive discussions involving sixteen key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), covering critical sectors such as Energy, Agriculture, Gender inclusion among have enabled the State Government to harmonise its development priorities with the UNDP’s strategic pathways.
