Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has said his administration is shifting the state from traditional trading towards manufacturing and digital commerce.

He made the remarks on Monday in Umuahia during the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Otti noted that Abia and the wider Igbo community, long known for trading, are deliberately moving into manufacturing and technology-driven business. He said the future of global commerce lies in technology and digital delivery rather than physical stores alone.

The governor addressed concerns about Chinese traders competing with Igbo entrepreneurs in retail markets in places like Lagos. He explained that Abia is supporting manufacturing and digital platforms so that local businesses can compete on a larger scale.

Otti said the state still values its markets but is progressing beyond conventional trading. He pointed to digital commerce models similar to Alibaba as the direction the administration is taking, warning that those who fail to adapt risk being left behind.

He added that the government is investing in digital skills for young people through initiatives such as TechRise. Some Abians trained under the programme are already working for global technology companies from Aba. Otti assured that his administration has laid a solid foundation for continued transformation in the state.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper