Otti launches Aba Export Lab to take Made-in-Abia goods global

In a bold step to reposition Abia State as a major export hub, Governor Alex Otti has launched the “Aba Export Growth Lab,” a flagship initiative aimed at preparing Made-in-Abia products for international markets.

The project, a joint venture between the Abia State Government and development partners including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is located at Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.

The commissioning ceremony featured product exhibitions by local entrepreneurs, technical presentations by business leaders, and a facility tour led by Governor Otti, UNDP representatives, and other dignitaries.

Designed to empower Aba-based enterprises and promote global trade readiness, the Aba Export Growth Lab targets enhanced productivity, product quality, and packaging for export. The pilot phase will focus on 20 carefully selected businesses across three high-demand sectors: Akwete cloth, leatherworks and footwear, and fashion garments.

“This initiative is not about making money for the government,” Governor Otti stated while commissioning the project. “We are here to help our people structure, standardise, package and brand their products in a way that competes in the global market. The international market does not tolerate mediocrity. If your product meets the required standards, it will sell. If it doesn’t, it will fail — and we must be prepared to fail it ourselves.”

Otti stressed that the initiative must uphold strict quality control and called on project managers not to compromise on standards.

“Don’t be sympathetic to sub-standard products,” he warned. “Fail it, so that the entrepreneur can improve and try again. What we want is excellence, not shortcuts.”

He added that Aba has long been a manufacturing powerhouse in Nigeria but has lacked the right level of institutional support to scale globally. “We’re not saying don’t import,” he added. “We’re saying we can also export the incredible things we produce in Aba and across Abia.”

The Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mazi Mike Akpara, noted that the Lab will serve as a platform to link local producers to international markets through capacity-building, product certification, trade knowledge, and market access. He emphasised that the initiative is designed to make Aba-based brands globally visible.

UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, lauded Governor Otti’s visionary leadership, stating that Abia’s approach could lead Africa’s next industrial revolution.

“If this initiative meets its objectives, Abia can rise as a regional corridor of productivity, investments, and jobs,” she said. “We are proud to support this launch. It is not just a project; it’s a movement.”

Also lending support, the Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, represented by Mrs. Nkeiru Ezenwanne, pledged to back the Otti administration’s push to create jobs and drive export diversification. She noted that the bank is committed to key value chains including agro-processing, manufacturing, garments, leather, and pharmaceuticals.

Ahead of the commissioning, the Abia State Government signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UNDP, signalling a deeper collaboration to accelerate sustainable development in areas such as digitalisation, energy, agriculture, and SME development.

Speaking at the signing, Governor Otti described the MoU as a significant milestone in Abia’s development trajectory. “This MoU assures us of your commitment. It’s a turning point. We now have a document to work with, and we intend to implement it fully,” he said.

He reiterated his government’s commitment to equitable growth across the state, pledging to provide a supportive environment for micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).

“Our people are ready. All they need is the right environment. We are focused on creating that,” the governor stated.

In her response, Ms. Attafuah called the MoU the first of its kind within UNDP’s “Integrated Smart State Accelerated Development” framework and described it as historic.

“We are co-investing into the future of development in Abia. This partnership shows that the state is ready to lead by example. Your vision and leadership are inspiring,” she told Governor Otti.

With the launch of the Aba Export Growth Lab and the UNDP partnership in motion, Abia is positioning itself as a model for export-led growth and subnational development in Nigeria.