Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said his administration is repositioning the state from conventional trading towards manufacturing and technology-driven commerce.

Otti made the statement on Monday in Umuahia while speaking at the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, with the theme, “The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo.”

The governor noted that while Abia and the wider Igbo community have historically been associated with trading and entrepreneurship, the changing global economy requires a shift towards manufacturing and digital commerce.

Addressing concerns about the growing presence of Chinese traders competing with Igbo entrepreneurs in retail markets in Lagos, Otti said Abia was deliberately moving beyond that model of business.

He said the state would continue to recognise the importance of markets but would increasingly focus on manufacturing and digital platforms for delivering products and services.

According to Otti, the transition means moving from dependence on physical shops to technology-enabled commerce, citing Alibaba as an example of the direction in which global business is heading.

The governor said the shift would begin in Abia, which he described as combining both manufacturing and trading, while gradually transitioning from conventional trading to digital commerce.

He also disclosed that his administration was investing in digital skills development for young people through initiatives such as TechRise.

Otti said some Abians who had undergone training under the initiative were already working remotely for global technology companies from Aba.

The governor also assured the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide of his administration’s continued support.

He described the theme of the 2026 Igbo Day celebration, “Njikọ Ka”, meaning “Unity is Supreme”, as appropriate, noting that it underscored the importance of unity despite differences.

Otti further said his administration had established a foundation for the state’s development and expressed confidence that Abia would continue to experience significant transformation.