Don’t allow export of substandard product from Abia, Otti mandates managers of Aba Export Growth Lab

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Governor Alex Otti unveiling the Aba Export Growth Lab

As Aba businesses begins to access the global market, Governor Alex Otti has warned that no sub-standard product should be passed managers of the Aba Export Growth Lab against approving export, any product that fails to meet set standards.

Governor Otti who gave the warning while commissioning the Aba Export Growth Lab domiciled inside the premises of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, the Aba, told entrepreneurs with sub-standard goods not to even try exporting such goods.

The Aba Export Growth Lab is a flagship project designed to help Aba-based enterprises access global markets by providing a platform for export development; boost productivity, quality and export capacity of locally made products, in line with the present administration’s vision to position Aba as Nigeria’s leading hub for innovation and export-driven manufacturing.

Performing the commissioning of the Lab, Governor Otti noted that for decades, Aba has always needed a whole lot of support than it has been getting.

He explained that the essence of commissioning the Aba Export Growth Lab was to support entrepreneurs in the State to structure their production, standardize and package their products in a way the would be competitive in the global market. 

“So, what we have come here to do is to support our people to structure their production, standardize, package and brand their products in such a way that it will be competitive in the international market. 

“By the time you finish packaging your product, if it meets the standards, they will buy. And yourself, you will be convinced that you have done enough work to support that product to be sold outside the shelves of this country.

“That’s the way the market is structured. And if you cannot compete globally, don’t even try because you will just waste your time. And history records that there are a lot of countries, including Japan, who developed after the war through export.

“We are not saying don’t import. That’s not a bad thing. But, we are saying that the things that we are producing in Aba and Abia, that we can sell them beyond the borders of Aba and Abia,” Governor Otti explained.

He challenged the managers of the project not to compromise quality but to uphold standards, mandating them to fail any product that is sub-standard and ensure that specifications are maintained, adding that, his government has no interest in making money from the project but to support and uplift entrepreneurs in the state.

“It must be done right. And any product that does not pass the test, don’t be sympathetic, fail it so that we can start afresh and get it to such a specification that we have defined.

“So, for those who are in one way or the other associated with the export growth lab, the output should be second to none. It would be sad, if you have passed a product and the product fails the test elsewhere. And, we also have our way of checking.,” Dr. Otti said.

He made it clear that government did not set up the facility to make money. “We don’t require money, as government, from here. So, if anybody is coming to tell you, oh!, government wants to make money, it’s not true because it’s not a money-making investment for the State. This is our own support to our people; the micro, small and medium scale enterprises,” the Governor announced.

Earlier in his address, Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mazi Mike Akpara, said that the Aba Export Growth Lab is established to create a pathway for Aba and Abia businesses to gain access to the global market.

Akpara pointed out that the Lab is expected to empower entrepreneurs to be visible in the global market, adding that 20 businesses were being targeted for the pilot phase which would focusing on three areas, including, Akwete cloth, footwear and fashion apparels. 

In her remarks, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms Elsie Attafuah, hailed Governor Otti for his visionary leadership which led to the initiating the project and described it as laudable. 

While assuring the commitment of UNDP to the project, she said that Abia can lead Africa’s industrial renaissance, adding that, the Southeast could rise as a regional corridor of productivity, investments and jobs through the project.

In a goodwill message, the Representative of NEXIM Bank, Mrs. Nkeiru Ezenwanne, expressed the bank’s full support to the administration of Governor Alex Otti towards the growth and creation of sustainable jobs by focusing on key value chains such as agro – processing, manufacturing, garment, leather and pharmaceuticals sectors. 

Ezenwnne said that the bank was committed to supporting initiatives that would drive export diversification and economic growth in line with its mandate to facilitate diversification of Nigerian foreign exchange earnings through export finance provision, credit guarantee and export insurance, including fund Management and export advisory services to exporters. 

The event equally featured presentation from Chief Executive of Transaharan Consulting, Mr. Francis Anatogu, and the inspection of products exhibition by Governor Otti, the UNDP Representatives and top government officials.