Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has declared that his administration is ready to leverage the opportunities provided by the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industrial Development Initiatives (NAADI) to stimulate economic growth and industrial development in the State.
Governor Otti made the declaration while receiving a delegation from NAADI led by its Director, Mr. Felix Charles, at the Government House, Umuahia.
The Governor expressed optimism about the initiative, assuring the delegation that his administration is fully prepared to collaborate with NAADI in order to maximize the benefits of the programme for the people of Abia State.
“We are already looking forward to taking advantage of this.
“I believe that as you sit down with my team, we will begin to unveil the details and know how to work with you to take full advantage of this initiative that you brought.
“One thing I can assure you is that my team is very ready,” Governor Otti stated.
He noted that the objectives of NAADI align closely with the development agenda and campaign promises of his administration, particularly in the areas of agriculture, industrialisation and value chain development.
“If you have a look at our manifesto and my promise to our people here, you will find that a lot of the things that NAADI targets to achieve have been documented in the manifesto.
“So, I want to thank you very, very much for your visit and thank you for considering us as a beneficiary,” the Governor added.
Governor Otti further stressed that no nation can achieve sustainable economic growth by depending solely on the production of primary products without processing and improving them along the value chain.
He highlighted Abia’s rich agricultural and industrial potentials, noting that the State remains a major producer of palm oil, cassava, fabrics, leather products, cocoa, cashew nuts and rubber, but emphasized that these products would yield greater economic benefits through proper processing and industrialisation.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director of NAADI, Mr. Felix Charles, explained that the initiative is a Federal Government programme designed to encourage wider participation in agriculture, provide training on agricultural value chains and help stakeholders gain access to international markets.
He disclosed that NAADI has already been established in eight states across the country, adding that Abia has now emerged as the ninth state where the initiative would be domesticated and officially launched.
Mr. Charles commended Governor Otti for his transformational projects across the State and assured that Abia would benefit immensely from the core pillars of the initiative, including bridging capacity gaps, promoting agribusiness, improving market access and addressing funding constraints.
He also reaffirmed NAADI’s commitment to partnering with the Abia State Government to drive agricultural and agro-industrial development.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD; the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Dr. Mrs. Salome Obiukwu; the Special Adviser on Trade and Commerce, Chief Nwaka Inem, alongside other senior government officials.
