The Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, has approved in principle a deeper partnership between the Abia State Government and Ethnocentrique Limited to scale up fashion production, develop specialized skills and position Abia as a globally competitive fashion manufacturing and export hub.
Governor Otti gave the approval on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when the Chief Executive Officer of Ethnocentrique, Mrs. Irunna Ejibe, led a delegation of the organisation and its partners on a working visit to the Governor at his office.
The Governor said his administration’s approach to attracting investors is to create an enabling environment rather than chase investments, noting that the progress already recorded by Ethnocentrique has validated that strategy.
“We believe that the best way to look for investors is to create the environment,” Governor Otti said, adding that the State Government is encouraged by the organisation’s work ethic, partnerships and measurable results.
Governor Otti expressed particular interest in the proposal to move from skills training to large-scale industrial production, stressing that existing facilities and initiatives should be expanded rather than duplicated.
“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. If you have something on ground, all you need to do is expand,” the Governor said.
He advocated the concentration and expansion of production in Abia, rather than establishing multiple factories across the country, arguing that such an approach would reduce fixed costs and improve economies of scale.
The Governor cited the example of an investor who, following engagement with the State Government, decided to consolidate and expand production in Abia, subsequently committing an additional $65 million to its operations in the State.
According to the Governor, the same model can be applied to the fashion industry, with Aba serving as a production base for Nigeria and the African market.
“Instead of setting up everywhere in Africa, we can supply the whole of Africa from here. Let’s even start from Africa,” Governor Otti stated.
The State Chief Executive disclosed that the State Government’s establishment of the Export Growth Lab, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is designed to support businesses with quality assurance and make locally produced goods export-ready.
Governor Otti stressed that production capacity alone does not guarantee access to international markets, noting that standardisation and quality assurance are critical to export success.
“You can produce a billion in terms of quantity, but nobody will buy them,” he said, emphasising the need for products to meet recognised international standards.
Gov. Otti noted that the size of the Nigerian market presents a huge opportunity for local manufacturers to replace imports while meeting domestic demand. He assured that the State Government is prepared to support the infrastructure required for expansion, particularly electricity.
The Governor directed his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, and the CEO/Managing Director of Enyimba Automated Shoe Company (ENASCO) and Enyimba Garment Factory, Ms. Nnena Kalu Ogba, to meet with the Ethnocentrique team to work out details of the proposed partnership and determine specific government interventions required.
Earlier, the CEO of Ethnocentrique, Mrs. Irunna Ejibe, commended Governor Otti for the transformation of Abia, particularly Aba, saying the improvement in infrastructure and governance has renewed confidence among investors and development partners.
Mrs. Ejibe said that while the government was rebuilding physical infrastructure, her organisation in partnership with the government is focused on rebuilding intangible systems that support industrial growth – including human capital development, access to markets, organised clusters, finance, functional cooperatives and intellectual property.
She disclosed that Ethnocentrique has successfully completed the two-year pilot phase of its Fashion Future Programme, implemented with support from the Mastercard Foundation.
According to her, the programme trained and certified over 6,000 young people, supported 4,240 small businesses through structured business advisory services, supported 1,460 mastercraft persons, trained 100 business development service providers, and generated over 11,000 direct and secondary jobs, including support for 2,240 female entrepreneurs.
She further disclosed that Ethnocentrique has secured strong indicative commitments from partners for a four-year scale-up of the programme, targeting at least 20,000 additional young people in Abia State.
The scale-up, she explained, will move beyond basic fashion skills to industrial production, equipping participants with competencies in industrial pattern making, grading, production management, line balancing, technical packs, sizing, export compliance, factory ethics and global supply chain practices.
She added that Ethnocentrique is working to establish quality assurance companies in Abia, describing quality assurance as a major bottleneck preventing local manufacturers from accessing international markets.
“Without quality assurance, we can’t export,” she said, explaining that trusted quality assurance systems will help de-risk Abia for international buyers and position the State as a compliant industrial hub.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D, Commissioners for Industries and SMEs, Mazi Mike Akpara, Youth and Sports, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa, Special Adviser on Trade and Commerce, Chief Nwaka Inem, the CEO/Managing Director of ENASCO and Enyimba Garment Factory, Ms. Nnenna Kalu Ogba, and other top government officials were present at the visit.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
September 15, 2026.
