Aba export lab launch marks new era in Abia’s economy, supporting 20 local businesses with training, strategy, and international trade access

The Aba export lab launch is set to reposition Abia State as a hub for export-led industrial growth. The announcement was made on Monday by the state Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, during a press briefing in Umuahia.

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According to Kanu, the initiative represents a strategic pivot under Governor Alex Otti’s economic agenda and is part of the broader Growth Exports Pillar.

He emphasised that the lab will provide a structured platform for developing Abia-made products for international markets.

“The commissioning of this export lab signals a strategic shift towards export-led industrialisation in Abia State, which Aba has been at the forefront as the state’s industrial and innovation hub,” he said.

The Aba export lab launch will provide training and mentorship over an initial six-month period.

Twenty or more selected businesses will participate in pilot programmes focused on export readiness, tailored strategies, and international compliance.

The targeted businesses will receive support in marketing, logistics, and operations to position their goods competitively on the global stage.

Kanu said the project would deliver clear outcomes, including verified market needs, export strategy blueprints, and actual transactions initiated in the African market.

Products such as Akwete textiles, footwear for industrial sectors, and apparel for diaspora communities are being prioritised due to their strategic advantages and strong demand potential.

“It is a product that the state is willing to take to the world, and it will form one of the focus products that businesses that are involved in the production will feature in the export lab,” he said of Akwete cloth, describing it as a cultural product of origin.

The lab is being implemented in collaboration with development agencies including UNDP and UNIDO.

These partners will support capacity building for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on improving quality, branding, pricing, packaging, and international certification.

Mike Akpara, Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, described the programme as a vehicle for reclaiming Aba’s historic identity as a manufacturing powerhouse.

“Before now, we called Aba the Japan of Africa. What it means is that we can produce anything. A lot of things come up from Aba, but in branding, they will now write made in Japan, made in Brazil, and whatever for lack of confidence,” Akpara said.

He added that the lab would also train entrepreneurs in global packaging standards, a critical requirement for competing internationally.

“It is very important that they do that because that is the only way the goods can compete favourably in the international markets.”

Chinenye Mba-Uzukwu, Principal Secretary and Chief Strategist Officer to the Governor, reiterated the government’s commitment to creating the right conditions for business growth.

“Government is providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive and would provide employment opportunities,” he said.

Odinakachi Emeh, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, confirmed strong development partner support for the programme.

With the Aba export lab launch, the state aims to transform homegrown potential into global trade opportunities while boosting internal capabilities.

The initiative comes as part of a larger plan to return Aba to its roots as a vibrant economic engine not only for Abia but for Nigeria.

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This lab, according to state officials, is not just an infrastructure or a training session—it is a deliberate tool of statecraft to restore confidence, elevate local production, and deliver sustainable development outcomes that Abians can be proud of.