Abia State Governor Alex Otti has urged Igbo traders and entrepreneurs to move beyond conventional trading and accelerate investments in manufacturing and digital commerce as competition in Nigeria’s retail market evolves, as reported by ChannelsTv and Punch. Speaking at the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in Umuahia, Otti said the traditional trading model remained important but should increasingly serve as a foundation for production, technology and wider market access. His remarks came amid concerns over the growing presence of Chinese traders in some Nigerian retail markets, particularly Lagos.
Otti said Abia was deliberately repositioning itself as both a manufacturing and technology driven commercial centre, with his administration supporting local production and digital skills development. He pointed to the state’s TechRise initiative, noting that some young people trained through the programme were already working remotely for global technology companies from Aba. The governor also highlighted digital delivery as a way for Abia entrepreneurs to reach customers beyond physical markets, drawing a distinction between conventional storefront commerce and technology enabled platforms that can connect local businesses to wider markets.
The comments reflect a broader economic transition facing Nigeria’s indigenous businesses, where access to technology, production capacity, financing, distribution and international markets increasingly shapes competitiveness. For Abia, the emphasis on manufacturing is particularly relevant to Aba’s established industrial and trading ecosystem, while digital commerce could provide businesses with additional channels beyond traditional markets. Otti said the state’s strategy was to move from trading towards manufacturing and digital commerce rather than remain dependent on conventional retail, positioning technology and local production as key elements of Abia’s economic development agenda.
