Denmark has opened a fresh chapter of sub-national cooperation with Abia State, as Governor Alex Otti, OFR, declared his administration’s readiness to partner the European nation across key sectors of the State’s economy.
The commitment was made during a strategic meeting between Governor Otti and the Consul-General of the Kingdom of Denmark in Lagos, Miss Jette Bjerrum, held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
Governor Otti said Abia is eager to collaborate with Denmark in Agriculture, Digital Transformation, Health, Maritime, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He expressed satisfaction with the Consul-General’s presentation, noting that many of Denmark’s proposed intervention areas align seamlessly with the State’s ongoing reforms.
According to the Governor, his administration prioritises swift and decisive action once goals are clearly defined.
“Some of the things you said are exactly what we are doing. For us, it is either we are doing something or we are not doing it. We don’t waste time. We don’t wait for perfection because no man is perfect,” he stated.
Governor Otti directed relevant officials to commence preliminary work on the partnership immediately and accepted a proposal for a joint workshop with the Danish delegation. The workshop, scheduled for January, will fine-tune the implementation framework for the partnership.
Highlighting digital transformation efforts, the Governor said Abia has made massive investments in data-driven systems for agriculture and governance. He explained that the State now maintains reliable digital records of farmers and farmlands, enabling effective planning.
He revealed that the Commissioner for Science and Technology and the Special Adviser on Agriculture both diaspora returnees are driving critical reforms in these sectors.
On health and education, Governor Otti noted that his administration consistently allocates 35% of the annual budget to both sectors, including 15% for health and 20% for education. He informed the Danish team of the State’s free and compulsory basic education policy, as well as ongoing upgrades in schools and 200 primary healthcare centres.
The Governor also underscored the success of the independent power project powering Aba with 24-hour electricity,an unprecedented achievement in Nigeria. He encouraged the delegation to visit Aba to experience the creativity of local artisans, describing the city as Nigeria’s “capital of MSMEs.”
Governor Otti commended Denmark’s development model and reiterated Abia’s commitment to building institutions that can contribute significantly to national growth.
Earlier, Consul-General Jette Bjerrum reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to strategic sub-national partnerships with Abia State. She said her visit aims to build trust and establish practical partnerships capable of delivering impactful short-term and long-term results.
Miss Bjerrum highlighted Denmark’s African Century Strategy, noting that Nigeria remains a central regional hub for investment and innovation. She emphasized Denmark’s strength in the agriculture value chain from farming to retail while identifying food systems as a priority area for collaboration.
She also underscored the importance of digital transformation, explaining that Denmark intends to support data-driven initiatives across public and private sectors to enhance efficiency and innovation at State level.
Miss Bjerrum noted that Denmark’s fund-owned corporate model promotes local participation and impactful investments. She added that high-level visits by the Danish Queen and State Secretary demonstrate Nigeria’s global relevance and the value of State-level partnerships.
She concluded that the forthcoming workshop would help identify specific collaboration areas and accelerate implementation.
The meeting had in attendance several key government officials, including the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbarze; Commissioner for Lands, Hon. Chaka Chukwumerije; Commissioner for Industries and SMEs, Hon. Mike Akpara, alongside other Commissioners and senior government aides.
