Abia State Government has received the Business Day awards on “Most Improved State in the Promotion of Made in Nigeria goods and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria in addition to the award as “Most Improved State in Education Development in Nigeria” by the Management of Business Day Newspapers.
This is in recognition of the state government under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s relentless efforts in promoting made in Nigeria goods, as well as his giant strides in the education sector which has earned Abia first position in WAEC and other national examinations in the last four years.
Presenting the award to Governor Ikpeazu at the Exco Chambers Government House Umuahia,the Management of Business Day Newspapers led by it’s editor,Mr Patrick Atuanya said the award is an outcome of Competitiveness and Good Governance award ceremony held by the media outfit in November last year where Abia State emerged victorious in two categories after a rigorous screening process.
He expressed belief that the private sector is the only path of prosperity for Nigeria pointing out that decentralization is vital to the success of Nigeria as an entity hence the decision to honour States that are doing well in moving it’s people forward.
“We’ve seen your handwork in this state and we’ve witnessed it first-hand. We know about the roads that are being constructed in Aba in addition to your efforts in opening up the metropolis like never before. We know about your strides in education so far which has made Abia students emerge first every year in WAEC and other examinations”, Atuanya said.
Atuanya on behalf of the media outfit, pledged total support to the strides made by the Ikpeazu administration geared towards making life better for the people.
Speaking after receiving the awards, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who dedicated the award to his team and the entire Abian people, expressed joy that his intervention in the area SMEs and infrastructural development of the state has opened Aba for more business opportunities adding that his vision for Abia, Ndigbo and Nigeria at large is to leverage on things the state has comparative advantage to create wealth and more job opportunities.
According to the governor,his administration has successfully addressed the issue of Power Supply,Loan Facility through the establishment of Micro Finance Bank as well as Automation and Marketing for the Aba business community with it’s population of over two hundred and fifty thousand artisans pointing out that prior to 2015 most markets in Aba had no access roads while traders in the market suffered poor patronage.
Ikpeazu while noting that invitations from many international financial institutions speak volume of the importance and level of success the Enyimba Economic City will record, said that the two Awards from the Business Day newspaper authenticates the award given to the state in 2018 by the World Bank as one of the five States with ease of doing business in Nigeria.
