Abia Govt Sign Landmark MoU With UNDP To Boost Economic Growth

Abia State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a strategic move towards sustainable economic growth and development.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, at his Nvosi country home Isialangwa South, Governor Alex Otti lauded the UNDP for its support and assured that his administration will ensure that the agreement delivers tangible benefits to the people.

Governor Otti noted that the essence of government is the welfare and security of the people and described the launch of the Aba Export Growth Lab as a critical step towards ensuring Abia products are competitive at the global stage.

“For us, this MoU marks a significant milestone in our journey. It means clearly that we can count on your support because we have a document.

“I want to say that I want to invest all my energy in this framework. We will go about doing what we have to do to ensure that we do not let you down,” Governor Otti declared.

The Governor, who reiterated that “the essence of government is the welfare and security of the people,” emphasized the administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. He further described the launch of the Aba Export Growth Lab as a strategic step to ensure that Abia’s products compete on the global stage.

“It was clear to us that if we do support our people in the fabrics and other things, we will be at such a competitive level that the world will begin to look. That is the essence of the Export Growth Lab, that we get our products refined in a situation where they can compete internationally. We need to see Abia’s products outside the shelves of this country,” he added.

In her speech, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms Elsie Attafuah disclosed that the agreement focuses on SMEs development, Digitalization, Energy and Industrial expansion, describing the partnership as historic and one that speaks much about the visionary leadership of the Dr Alex Otti administration.

Ms Attafuah, while revealing that the MoU was the first landmark agreement signed by the UNDP with a Nigerian State under its Integrated Smart State of Accelerated Development framework, expressed the hope that the partnership would serve as a model for other States.

She noted that the UNDP had returned to Abia with a larger delegation to reaffirm its deep commitment to the partnership.

“Your Excellency, on behalf of UNDP, indeed the United Nations as a whole, let me say how proud we are of you for the vision that you have, for the exemplary leadership.

“Increasingly, Abia is showing the way as an epitome of the sub national that is really doing what matters, and particularly in times like this,” she stated.

She further noted that this was the first landmark MoU signed by the UNDP with a Nigerian state under its Integrated Smart State of Accelerated Development framework, expressing confidence that the partnership would serve as a model for others.

“So we are here for the signing of the MoU, but also secondly to support you as we launch the Aba Export Growth Lab today. I think Aba is showing us the way, and we believe Aba is going to provide the economic renaissance that Africa needs,” Ms. Attafuah added.

Speaking earlier, the Chief Strategist and Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mr Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, described the agreement as the culmination of months of constructive engagement to fine-tune the framework for collaboration, adding that it would serve as the framework guiding their joint commitment.

Mr Mba-Uzoukwu noted that extensive discussions involving sixteen key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), covering critical sectors such as Energy, Agriculture, Gender inclusion and host of others have enabled the State Government to harmonise its development priorities with the UNDP.

“As the Director of this district, I have led these engagements to ensure that we build a robust and practical framework for cooperation with the UNDP, fully aligned with the New Abia Agenda,” he said.

This strategic partnership is expected to attract technical support, strategic investments, and sustainable interventions in critical sectors such as energy, digitization, SMEs development, and industrial expansion, further reinforcing the State’s commitment to inclusive growth and socio-economic transformation.

Abia Govt Sign Landmark MoU With UNDP To Boost Economic Growth is first published on The Whistler Newspaper