The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has unveiled plans to drive President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate on industrial development in the South-East, selecting Aba, Abia State as the hub for the initiative.
The Institute’s Chairman and former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, and its Director-General, Prof Ayo Omotayo, disclosed this during a courtesy call on Governor Alex Otti, at his residence in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The Former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, commended Governor Otti for what he described as good governance in Abia, stressing that the decision to situate the hub in the State was well deserved.
Contributing, the DG, NIPSS, Prof Ayo Omotayo explained that the choice of Aba was evidence-based and reflected the South-East’s long-standing reputation for Innovation, Trade and Industry.
“Mr President believes that a whole lot of potentials exist in all the six geographical regions, and that we must unlock those potentials.
“We found that for trade and industry, out of the six geographical zones, the most talents exist more in the South-East.
“Without doubt, the South-East has the natural talent for factories, for innovation, for buildings, and so on. So, we chose the South-East as the best hub for local industrial development, local industrial revitalisation of what it used to do. After the South-East was chosen, we broke them down into each of the states.
“At the National Institute, we don’t put emotions into things. It’s based on the data and we found that Abia is the hub for local inventions, local innovations, and an area where we can easily take out local content”, Prof Omotayo stated.
In his response, Governor Otti expressed appreciation to NIPSS for resisting pressure from other quarters and choosing Abia and noted that the decision was in line with the ongoing economic transformation of the State.
“I want to also thank you for considering Abia and resisting the pressure from others. I want to assure you that the decision you took is the right decision.
“I can assure you that this one fits perfectly into what we are quietly doing here. You may not have known that we just set up an Export Growth Lab in Abia”, the Governor said.
He assured the Institute of his administration’s support in implementing President Tinubu’s industrialization mandate and directed his Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer to liaise with NIPSS to provide all necessary assistance.
Governor Otti who highlighted Abia’s industrial capacity, disclosed that the Ariaria International Market alone hosts about 60,000 shoemakers, while the State has also restructured the management of the Enyimba Shoe and Garment Factories.
“The state has also taken active interest in the management of Enyimba Shoe and Garment Factories. So they appointed new management who are funding it very well.
“And NIPSS, you may also want to take interest. Just see what we are doing there. It’s still early days, but I’m sure you’ll be happy.
“Our predecessors handed it over to us, but the structure and the management was very faulty. So we spent over a year trying to untie some of the roadblocks, and then I think we have gotten it off the ground now”, the Governor explained.
