NEWS
Gov. Alex Otti Moves to Harness NAADI Initiative for Economic Growth and Agro-Industrial Revolution in Abia
The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has declared that his administration is fully prepared to leverage the opportunities embedded in the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro Industrial Development Initiatives (NAADI) to strengthen the State’s economy, expand agro-industrial development, and create sustainable value chains across key agricultural sectors.
Governor Otti made this known on Wednesday, May 6th, while receiving a delegation from the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro Industrial Development Initiatives (NAADI), led by its Director, Felix Charles, at the Governor’s Office.
Speaking during the meeting, the Governor expressed optimism over the initiative and assured the delegation of the readiness of his administration to collaborate with NAADI in order to maximize the economic and industrial opportunities that come with the programme.
“We are already looking forward to taking advantage of this.
“I believe that as you sit down with my team, we will begin to unveil the details and know how to work with you to take full advantage of this initiative that you brought.
“One thing I can assure you is that my team is very ready,“ Governor Otti assured.
Governor Otti noted that the objectives of NAADI align strongly with the vision and promises contained in his administration’s manifesto, particularly in the areas of industrialization, agricultural development, youth empowerment, and economic transformation.
According to him, the initiative reflects many of the developmental priorities his government has consistently pursued since assuming office, adding that the partnership would further accelerate the State’s drive toward economic self-sufficiency and industrial expansion.
“if you have a look at our manifesto, and my promise to our people here, you will find that a lot of the things that NAADI target to achieve have been documented in the manifesto.
“So, I want to thank you very, very much for your visit and thank you for considering us as a beneficiary,“ Governor stated.
The Governor further emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria and sub-national governments to move beyond the production of raw agricultural commodities and embrace value addition through processing and industrialization. He explained that economies that depend solely on primary production without processing often struggle to achieve meaningful growth and wealth creation.
Governor Otti highlighted Abia State’s enormous agricultural and industrial potential, describing the State as a major producer of palm oil, cassava, fabrics, leather products, cocoa, cashew nuts, and rubber. He stressed that these resources would only generate substantial economic benefits when processed into finished or semi-finished products capable of competing in local and international markets.
He maintained that without proper processing and integration into global value chains, many of the State’s agricultural products would continue to remain at subsistence level with limited economic impact on the people.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director of NAADI, Felix Charles, explained that the initiative is a Federal Government-backed programme designed to drive increased participation in agriculture, promote agribusiness development, and provide specialized training on agricultural value chains.
Mr. Charles disclosed that the initiative is also aimed at helping stakeholders understand how to access and compete effectively in international agricultural markets while improving productivity and profitability within the sector.
He revealed that NAADI has already been established in eight States across the country and described Abia as privileged to emerge as the ninth State where the initiative would be domesticated and officially launched.
The NAADI Director commended Governor Otti for what he described as the transformational projects and developmental strides of the administration, assuring that Abia stands to benefit immensely from the programme’s core pillars.
According to him, the initiative would help bridge existing capacity gaps, promote agribusiness investments, improve market access opportunities, address funding challenges facing farmers and agro-processors, and strengthen the agricultural ecosystem within the State.
Mr. Charles also reaffirmed the commitment of NAADI to building a productive partnership with the Abia State Government in order to achieve shared economic and agricultural development goals.
The high-level meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pst. Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D; the Honourable Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Dr. Mrs. Salome Obiukwu; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Commerce and Industry, Chief Nwaka Inem, alongside other senior 
government officials and appointees.