Otti Urges Igbo Traders to Embrace Manufacturing and Digital Commerce

​ABIA STATE — Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has challenged entrepreneurs of South-Eastern extraction to transition from conventional buying and selling into industrial manufacturing and technology-driven commerce to stay competitive in the evolving global economy.

​Speaking in Umuahia during the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Governor Otti noted that while traditional trading and physical markets remain historically significant, the changing realities of international trade demand a strategic evolution.

​Addressing recent public anxieties regarding foreign retail competition—specifically the rising presence of Chinese traders in prominent commercial hubs like Lagos—Otti emphasized that the most effective response is outgrowing that tier of commerce entirely.

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​“We are leaving that level of trading. In Abia, we have markets. The markets are important. But we are moving from that level of marketing to manufacturing… We are leaving that physical store for digital delivery. So, when somebody talked about Alibaba, that is exactly where we are headed,” Otti stated.

​Highlighting his administration’s trajectory, the governor noted that Abia is actively supporting industrial production and fostering digital literacy. Through initiatives like the TechRise program, local youths are being equipped with specialized digital skills to service international technology corporations directly from Aba. He warned that regional businesses risk being left behind globally if they fail to embrace modern e-commerce infrastructure.

​The event, held under the theme “The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo,” also underscored the paramount importance of regional solidarity, with the sub-theme “Njikọ Ka” (Unity is Supreme) resonating throughout the celebrations as a call for cohesive development across the South-East.