The African Development Bank was told by its leaders, Okezie Ikpeazu, a thriving entrepreneurship industry and agricultural base in Nigéria’s Abia State are the foundation for developing a potentially sustainable industrial hub. At its headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Ikpeazu met with African Development Bank Chairman Akinwumi Adesina to discuss investments in Abia to promote job creation and improve livelihoods.
“Our dream is to build on our people’s ability to become Nigeria’s SME capital. Our workers are creative and hardworking. For example, our people in the leather industry are known as top players. We have a new shoe factory with more than 50, 000 shoes in production. It is critical that the Bank helps us in particular address the infrastructure deficit of the State, “said the Governor.
With more than 2,8 million people, Abia State looks towards the Bank to help make the Economic City (EEC) of Enyimba an ambitious economic hub. The goal of the state government is to turn this area into a competitive and economic hub and to generate 700,000 jobs over five years. The project, presented at the Africa Investment Forum in 2019, was of considerable investment value, according to officials. A waste-to-energy plant also requires other financial considerations. The Bank was also seeking support for the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Project to develop massive State infrastructure, particularly in the commercial city of Aba and Umuahia’s state capital.
Abia State has “great potential in agricultural processing and human resources,” Adesina said. Adesina said. “The Bank has a role to play in promoting the transition of governments like yourselves and creating jobs,” he said.
The Bank also asked Ikpeazu to support the development of main agricultural value chains, including palm oil, rice, cocoa, cassava, maize and cashew. Chidozie Bob Ogu, Finance Commissioner, Aham Uko, Agriculture Commissioner, Ikechi Mgbeoji and the Intergovernmental Governor Special Advisor, Chinenye Nwaogu joined the Governor.
“Aba has evolved over the years as a business centre and as a small-scale enterprise. For Nigeria and Africa, the city has the potential to become a productive manufacturing hub. The Bank will, therefore, continue to support your dream, “concluded Adesina.
The Group has invested approximately $74.5 million in the State, in four critical energy and technology fields (53 per cent); education (25 per cent); health (15 per cent) and transport (7 per cent), since its operational activities began in Nigeria in 1971. Over the next few years, the State will continue to be a primary beneficiary of the Bank’s funding for the planned ABIP and the Economic City of the Enyimba.
Source Data: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
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