Business - Abia ThinkTank News

Mar

2025

Abia State’s Prosperity: A Cyclone Of Growth Gathering Momentum – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Business, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Economy, Good Governance

Abia State’s Prosperity: A Cyclone of Growth Gathering Momentum IntroductionMuch like a cyclone developing over warm ocean waters, Abia State in southeastern Nigeria is harnessing latent energy across sectors to fuel a storm of economic and social transformation. Cyclones begin as mere disturbances, gradually organizing into powerful systems. Similarly, Abia’s prosperity is brewing through strategic reforms, investments, and innovation—culminating into a force poised to reshape its future. 1. Governance: The Tropical DisturbanceEvery cyclone starts with a disturbance. For Abia, this began with governance reforms. Under Governor Alex Otti’s administration, the state prioritized transparency and infrastructure. In 2023, 35% of Abia’s…

Mar

2025

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Vietnamese Ambassador To Nigeria Holds Meeting With Chambers Of Commerce In ABIA State

Abia State, Business, Good Governance, News Flash

VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA HOLDS MEETING WITH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE IN ABIA STATE In pursuance of a collaboration between Abia State Government and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung has held meetings with the business communities in Abia State. Speaking at the different business meetings with the Umuahia and Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Bui Quoc Hung said that Vietnam and Nigeria have many things in common. Mr. Hung said that he engaged the business community in order to identify areas…

Feb

2025

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Empowering Abia’s Youth Economy: A Blueprint To Rival Singapore’s Success – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Business, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance

Empowering Abia’s Youth Economy: A Blueprint to Rival Singapore’s Success *Introduction: Learning from Singapore’s Playbook*Singapore, a nation with no natural resources, transformed itself into a $466 billion economy (2023 GDP) by prioritizing innovation, education, and governance. Similarly, Abia State—home to 4.167 million people, 70% of whom are under 30—can leverage its youthful population to drive a Singapore-style revolution. Governor Alex Otti’s recent pledge to invest 15% of the state’s ₦567 billion budget (2024) in youth empowerment signals readiness. With Nigeria’s youth unemployment rate at 19.7% (NBS, 2023) and Abia’s even higher at 34%, this blueprint offers a data-driven roadmap to…

Feb

2025

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Gov. Otti Setting Up Export Growth Lab In ABA, Seeks Greater Partnership With UNDP

Abia State, Business, Economy, Good Governance, News Flash

GOV. OTTI PLANS TO SET UP EXPORT GROWTH LAB IN ABA, SEEKS GREATER PARTNERSHIP WITH UNDP. In a bid to create a more functional economy in the State, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti is planning to set up an export growth lab in Aba the commercial nerve centre of the South East. Governor Otti disclosed this on thursday while receiving in audience the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He expressed the hope that there is a lot Abia State Government can do together with the UNDP. "We believe that there is a whole lot we…

Feb

2025

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There Is No Better Place For Investment Than ABIA, Gov. Otti Tells German Consul General

Abia State, Business, Economy, Good Governance, News Flash

THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE FOR INVESTMENT THAN ABIA, GOV. OTTI TELLS GERMANY CONSUL GENERAL. Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti says that there is no better place to invest than Abia as the State has what it takes to partner investors and drive the State's economy. Governor Otti stated this on thursday while receiving in audience the Consul General of Republic of Germany to Nigeria, Mr. Weert Borner. He said that there is a lot of opportunities in Abia yearning for partnership with credible organisations. The Governor said that the time is ripe for investors to explore opportunities in…

Feb

2025

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FGN Urges Cement Price Reduction Amid Economic Recovery, Proposes New Price

Business, Economy, FGN

FG Urges Cement Price Reduction Amid Economic Recovery, Proposed New Price The Federal Government has urged cement manufacturers to lower prices to N7,000, citing improved economic conditions. This call was made by the Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, during a meeting at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on February 26, 2025, according to a statement on the ministry’s website. Umahi noted that the naira has stabilized at about N1,400 per dollar, and petrol prices have dropped, creating a conducive environment for reduced cement costs. He criticized the current price of N9,500, pointing out that manufacturers increased prices…

Feb

2025

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First Made-In-Nigeria Helicopter Arriving Soon

Business, Economy, Manufacturing, News Flash

First Made-in-Nigeria helicopter Arriving soon The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has said the engineering work on the first Made-in-Nigeria helicopter is nearing completion. The agency promised that it would soon fly the Nigerian chopper. The Project Manager of NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute in Kaduna, Kareem Aduagba, announced this yesterday during a Focus Group Engagement organised by the agency. The focus group engagement, which was attended by inventors and manufacturers from the academia and private sectors in Kaduna, was meant to promote local manufacturing, innovation, and the adoption of Made-in-Nigeria products. The forum brought…

Feb

2025

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Again, Multi choice Increases DSTV, GOtv Prices(See List)

Business, News Flash, Telecommunications

Again, Multichoice Increases DStv, GOtv Prices (See List) Multichoice is set to increase the prices of its DStv and GOtv packages effective from March 1, 2025. This was disclosed in a statement to its customers on Monday. The statement titled, “Price adjustments for DStv and GOtv packages,” read, “Dear Customer, please note that effective 1 March 2025, there will be a price adjustment on all DStv packages. “This is to enable us to continue to offer our customers world-class homegrown and international content, delivered through the best technology.” This is coming almost one year after its last price review. According…

Feb

2025

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Fake Drugs: Soludo Counters Obi, Backs ‘Total Closure’ Of Onitsha Head Bridge Market

Business, Economy, News Flash, Politics

Fake Drugs: Soludo Counters Obi, Backs ‘Total Closure’ Of Onitsha Head Bridge Market Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has countered Peter Obi’s stance on the closure of the plumbing materials markets by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). As part of its fight against the proliferation of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria, NAFDAC recently shut down the entire Head Bridge Market in Onitsha following the discovery of fake drugs at the Ogbo Ogwu section of the market. The agency uncovered fake drugs at various shops in the market and also seized 10 trucks of substandard,…

Feb

2025

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FGN Bows To Pressure, Set To Crash Telecom Tariff Hike

Business, FGN, News Flash, Telecommunications

FG Bows To Pressure, Set To Crash Telecom Tariff Hike The Federal Government has agreed to lower the recent increase in telecommunications tariffs, reducing the hike from 50 percent to 35 percent after facing pressure from organized labour and the public. The decision was reached after a meeting between government officials and representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). The meeting, which took place at the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) on Friday, was part of efforts to address the growing concerns over the high cost of telecom services. Sources indicate that an official announcement regarding the tariff…