Abia State has taken a bold step toward redefining the future of small businesses as Governor Alex Otti, OFR, officially launched the Abia State Government–Ethnocentricintrique Limited MSME Competitiveness and Industrial Productivity Program (MCIPP), a landmark initiative poised to revolutionise product quality, strengthen local manufacturing, and reposition the State as a global hub for innovation.
The launch, held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, unveiled MCIPP as a meticulously structured, intentionally aligned programme designed to uplift Nigeria’s creative and small business ecosystem. Its strategic pillars include skills development, certification, enterprise systems, business support services, formalisation, and access to wider local and international markets.
Governor Otti described the programme as a decisive response to long-standing obstacles faced by artisans and MSMEs, noting that MCIPP would empower local producers to compete across Africa and on the global stage.
He issued a strong call to end the disturbing trend of branding locally made goods with foreign labels, stressing that such practices suppress homegrown creativity. Citing an encounter with an Aba shoemaker who adorned a locally crafted shoe with a foreign mark, Governor Otti said the experience “revealed the mindset problem we must collectively address.”
According to him, the real work lies in reorienting manufacturers, traders, and consumers to recognise Made-in-Abia products as authentic and superior, not inferior substitutes.
The Governor also warned that counterfeits of Abia’s iconic “Akwete Cloth” have begun appearing overseas, underscoring the urgency of trademark protection and global branding of the cherished fashion identity.
Reaffirming his administration’s strong support for MSMEs, Governor Otti recalled the disbursement of N1 billion to nano-businesses last year and confirmed that more MSME-focused allocations have been made in the current budget. He commended Ethnocentrique Limited for initiating MCIPP in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation before government involvement, noting that the organisation’s foresight convinced the State to fully support the project.
A total of 1,000 MSMEs are participating in the programme’s first phase, with plans to scale the number to 10,000.
Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mazi Mike Akpara, said MCIPP aims to boost business formalisation, intellectual property protection, and skills certification statewide. He announced the target to register 4,000 MSMEs with the Corporate Affairs Commission and sector regulators, thereby improving access to procurement opportunities and national market standards.
He added that the State would train 100 Business Development Service Providers and produce 1,000 NSQF-certified artisans in garments, leatherwork, footwear and allied sectors, all geared toward raising product quality and expanding employability.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive of Ethnocentrique Ltd., Mrs. Irunna Ejibe, described MCIPP as a turning point—transitioning from fragmented interventions to a structured industrial ecosystem anchored on standards, certification, and enterprise systems. She noted that phase one includes certification of 1,000 artisans, training of 100 BDSPs, registration of 2,000 businesses, and the trademarking of 100 indigenous brands.
She expressed confidence that the initiative would integrate Abia into global value chains by aligning local production with internationally recognised standards.
The ceremony featured panel discussions by industry experts and was attended by top government officials, business leaders, and hundreds of MSME participants, marking a significant milestone in Abia’s drive toward sustainable economic growth.
