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Otti woos investors, expresses determination to make Abia model state in Nigeria

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Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has described his administration’s achievements in the past 19 months as mere dress rehearsal, while expressing his determination to make Abia a model State in Nigeria.

Otti invited all who are interested in investing to come to Abia, assuring that the state does not discriminate against people based on ethnicity, state of origin or religion.

He assured that in doing so, he would never tamper with the State resources but use them for the benefit of the populace.

Governor Otti spoke at Aba, weekend,  when he paid a private visit to an Aba based  business man and chief executive officer of STARLINE,  Mazi Clement Owunna.

Otti commended Mazi Owunna for not giving up on Aba and Abia state, even when there were compelling reasons to do so.

He disclosed that it was people like Mazi Owunna who believed that Aba and Abia could be rebuilt, that made him (Otti) give up his well-paying banking job as  Group Managing Director (GMD) to lead the struggle to liberate and rebuild  Abia state.

Otti declared: “I said to myself; so, I have stayed on this job  and become a very successful Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, but by the time I retire, there would be no home to go to. So, I sacrificed that banking  job and started struggling, for almost ten years to make a home I will return to after retirement.

“Today, Iam here. My advice is that people should prayerfully stick to and work on their dreams. If  it does not happen today, it will happen tomorrow or next week.

“Knowing fully what Abia wants, the first thing we did was to abolish State of origin syndrome in the state. Reason: If you stay here, if you live here,  then you are from here”, the Governor asserted.

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“What we are building here is a model State. No matter what anyone says, we are focused and determined.”

In his  brief remark, Owunna thanked Governor Otti and his entourage for visiting  his family and promised to support his administration in anywhere possible.

Meanwhile, the state government has said it will partner with an American-based company, US Market Access Center (USMAC) to harness the potential and human energies existing in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the State.

Governor Alex Otti  gave the indication when  he received in audience, at Government House, a delegation of the US Market Access Center (USMAC) led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chris Burry.

He stressed that there is no better place currently for entrepreneurship and investment than Abia state.

He said that the State Government is happy to partner the company as its proposal falls in-line  with the vision of his administration.

Otti  declared: “When you talk of technology, that’s where we are heading to. If it is about entrepreneurship, innovation, I think you have come to the best place.

“There is no better place, if you are talking about entrepreneurship and investment, than Abia state.”

Governor Otti, who further  explained that there  are huge potentials  and human energies  available in Aba,  requested the team to visit Aba to see things for themselves.

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“I want it to be evidence- based. So, go to Ariaria International market; go to other markets in Aba, you will see things for yourselves . We need to come from evidence point of view”, he said.

The Governor commissioned the team to interface with the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. David Kalu and members of the Governor’s team in charge of technology to work with the US Market Access Center and come up with recommendations on how best to collaborate with them.

Earlier in his speech, the leader of the delegation  , Mr. Chris Burry said that Abia is the first State the team is visiting with its proposal because of the innovations the Governor is bringing in the State.

He expressed their interest to collaborate with Abia State Government in various technological areas with opportunities including entrepreneurship education, skills acquisition among others.

Other Government officials were part of government team during the business meeting in Umuahia.