Stakeholders identify Aba as future international manufacturing hub, urge SMEs to seize AGOA and AfCFTA opportunities
Abia State is positioning itself as a major destination for international trade, investment and economic partnerships with plans to establish an African Trade Development Centre (ATDC) in the state as part of the expected long-term benefits of hosting Africando 2026.
The proposed centre is expected to facilitate international trade, strengthen local manufacturing, promote exports, attract diaspora investments and provide Abia businesses, particularly small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), with access to international markets.
This formed the major highlight of a media briefing and stakeholders’ engagement ahead of Africando 2026, which is expected to bring together investors, policymakers, parliamentarians, civil society organisations, business leaders and diaspora representatives from Africa, the United States and other parts of the world.
The stakeholders commended Governor Alex Otti for providing the enabling environment for Abia State to host the international conference, describing the development as an opportunity to showcase the state’s economic potential and reposition its businesses for global competitiveness.
Speaking at the briefing, Chairman of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, Chief Okey Agbara, expressed gratitude to God and the governor for making it possible for Abia State to host a conference of such international significance.
Agbara described Africando as one of the longstanding African conferences, with a history spanning 26 years, largely associated with Miami-Dade County, Florida, in the United States.
He explained that the conference provides an important platform for strengthening economic relationships between African countries and the United States, particularly through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
According to him, Nigeria has not fully maximised the opportunities offered by AGOA, stressing that Africando would help Nigerian businesses and industries establish direct relationships with international companies and buyers.
He identified the establishment of the African Trade Development Centre as one of the major objectives of the conference, alongside strengthening the implementation of AGOA and expanding trade opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
Agbara expressed appreciation to the organisers and collaborators, noting that the initiative had come at a time when Abia State was pursuing economic transformation and greater international engagement.
In his remarks, Dr Fred Oladeinde, Chairman of the AGOA Civil Society Organisation and representative of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa, explained that the foundation’s mission was to use economic freedom to strengthen political democracy through the promotion of SMEs and the active participation of civil society and the private sector in economic development.
He acknowledged the contributions of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, particularly Chief Okey Agbara, and the Africa Global Chamber of Commerce in bringing Africando 2026 to Abia State.
Oladeinde said the collaboration was built around the need to mobilise Africans in the diaspora to contribute more strategically to the continent’s economic development.
He observed that diaspora remittances represent a significant financial resource for African countries but are largely directed towards supporting household consumption.
He disclosed that one of the objectives of the proposed African Trade Development Centre was to explore ways of redirecting at least 20 per cent of diaspora remittances from consumption into productive investments.
According to him, the centre would work with the Diaspora Commission and the Africa Global Chamber of Commerce to develop investment opportunities that would allow diaspora resources to support businesses, industries, supply chains and job creation.
He further explained that Africando 2026 would deliberately involve diaspora professionals and experts as coaches and resource persons to reconnect them with opportunities in Africa.
Oladeinde added that delegates from neighbouring African countries would participate in the conference, reflecting the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in expanding trade among African nations.
He said the conference would also provide opportunities for parliamentarians at national and sub-national levels to discuss the role of legislation in using trade as an engine of economic growth.
Civil society representatives from across Africa would equally participate in discussions aimed at challenging existing practices and developing new approaches to African economic development.
He called on community organisations and other stakeholders to participate actively, insisting that inclusive participation was necessary to build the kind of economic partnerships Africando seeks to achieve.
Oladeinde also commended the chairman of the planning committee for his commitment, noting that his contributions had been instrumental in bringing the conference to fruition.
He disclosed that the conference would feature an opening ceremony, technical sessions, a reception and a gala, alongside the presentation of the Medal of Glory Award.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Abia Global Chamber of Commerce, James Ogbuka, described Africando as an important opportunity for Abia State to benefit from international trade and investment initiatives.
He explained that the chamber had served as a bridge between the Foundation for Democracy in Africa and the Abia State Diaspora Commission, particularly following discussions about Nigeria’s limited utilisation of AGOA opportunities.
Ogbuka identified the establishment of the African Trade Development Centre in Abia as a major objective of the collaboration.
He expressed optimism that Aba would eventually emerge as a major hub for the centre, with local manufacturers receiving support to standardise their products and meet international export requirements.
According to him, product standardisation is essential if goods manufactured in Aba and other parts of Abia are to compete successfully in international markets.
He stressed that the benefits of African trade should not be limited to transactions between Africa, Europe and the United States, but should also promote trade among African countries.
Ogbuka further pledged that the Abia Global Chamber of Commerce would take responsibility for post-conference follow-up, particularly in business matchmaking, investment facilitation and ensuring that partnerships initiated during Africando translate into actual projects.
He said the ultimate objective was to maximise Abia’s productive capacity and showcase the state’s economic potential to the international community.
In her contribution, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, Amb. Rev. Dr Annie Onu, described Africando as an important platform for connecting Abians at home with those in the diaspora.
She expressed appreciation to Governor Alex Otti for creating an environment that allows Abians in different parts of the world to participate in the development of their state.
Onu emphasised the importance of developing local content, particularly by helping manufacturers and producers properly package, document and position their products for international markets.
She noted that Abia State has considerable agricultural and organic product potential which could attract international buyers if properly processed, presented and marketed.
According to her, the Diaspora Commission serves as a strategic link between international organisations, the homeland and Abians in the diaspora, helping to unlock investment and development opportunities.
She commended the commissioners, staff and other collaborators who had contributed to the organisation of the conference, expressing confidence that Africando would expose Abia’s economic opportunities to international visitors.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, Ubani Nkolika Cleopatra, Esq., highlighted the strategic benefits of hosting Africando 2026 in Abia State.
She identified foreign investment attraction, international promotion of Aba, expansion of trade opportunities, growth of the hospitality and tourism sectors, and the establishment of the African Trade Development Centre as major expected benefits.
According to her, Africando provides a platform for Abia State to engage directly with international investors, particularly from the United States and other African countries.
She said the conference would enable the state to showcase its investment opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture, commerce, technology and housing infrastructure.
She expressed the expectation that the engagement would translate into meaningful business partnerships, investment opportunities and employment for residents.
On Aba’s manufacturing potential, she described the city as a centre of entrepreneurship, creativity and commercial activities, expressing optimism that the conference would help take Made-in-Aba products to international markets.
She also noted that the arrival of international delegates, business leaders and investors would stimulate economic activities in hotels, restaurants, transportation services and local businesses.
She particularly emphasised the importance of establishing the African Trade Development Centre, describing it as a permanent institutional platform for trade facilitation, investment promotion and SME development.
She urged local manufacturers, traders and entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the opportunities Africando presents.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Dr Emma’s Okechi, said the philosophy behind Governor Alex Otti’s economic vision was to create prosperity for the people before expecting increased revenue from them.
He recalled a conversation with the state’s internally generated revenue leadership in which taxation was described as government’s share of the prosperity it had created for the people.
According to him, the government must first create an enabling environment for businesses to grow, attract investments and generate employment before expecting increased revenue through taxation.
He explained that attracting investors from different parts of the world would expand Abia’s economy, create employment opportunities for young people and ultimately increase the state’s revenue base.
However, he stressed that the primary objective of the administration was the prosperity and well-being of the people and their businesses.
Okechi commended the governor for spearheading the initiative, noting that businesses and SMEs had already begun responding positively to the conference.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa, led by Dr Fred Oladeinde; the Abia Global Chamber of Commerce, led by James Ogbuka; and the Abia State Diaspora Commission, led by Chief Okey Agbara.
He expressed confidence that the success of Africando would depend largely on the ability of Abians to connect with the opportunities presented by the conference.
He added that the Abia Global Chamber of Commerce would play a significant role in sustaining business connections and partnerships after the event.
The stakeholders agreed that Africando 2026 should go beyond the hosting of an international conference to become a platform for sustainable economic development.
The proposed African Trade Development Centre is expected to provide a framework for promoting exports, improving product standards, facilitating international business relationships and connecting local manufacturers with foreign markets.
The emphasis on AGOA and AfCFTA also reflects the growing recognition that Abia businesses must improve their production capacity, product quality and competitiveness to benefit from expanding international and continental trade opportunities.
For Aba, widely recognised for its manufacturing and entrepreneurial activities, the initiative presents an opportunity to strengthen its position as a centre of production and international commerce.
The stakeholders consequently called on business owners, manufacturers, traders, community organisations, professionals and the wider Abia community to participate actively in the conference and take advantage of the opportunities it offers.
They maintained that the real measure of Africando’s success would not only be the number of international delegates who attend but also the investments attracted, businesses connected, jobs created and lasting economic institutions established in Abia State.
Africando 2026 is scheduled to hold from November 17 to 19, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, bringing together investors, policymakers, business leaders, parliamentarians, civil society organisations and diaspora representatives from Africa, the United States and other parts of the world.
