Abia State has won the awards of the Most Improved State In Education Development in Nigeria and Most Improved State in Promotion of Made in Nigeria Products and SME in Nigeria according to Business Day Newspapers.
Presenting the Awards to the Governor, the Editor, Business Day Newspapers, Mr. Patrick Atuanya said that the two Awards on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu were the outcome of a competitiveness and good governance award ceremony organised by the Newspaper Company in November 2019 where Abia State was chosen for the awards.
Mr. Atuanya who said that they were witnesses to the transformation and infrastructural development of the State Government, lauded the aggressive promotion of made-in-Nigeria goods by Governor Ikpeazu’s administration, the lead Abia State has maintained in WAEC results for four consecutive times as well as the initiation of the Enyimba Economic City Project among other achievements of the Governor accounted for the merit award.
Speaking while receiving the awards at Government House Umuahia, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said that the two awards from Business Day Newspaper would serve as a tonic to his government in moving the State forward, noting that his vision for Abia, Ndigbo and Nigeria at large was to leverage on things which the State has comparative advantage on to create jobs, adding that he had, since assumption of office in 2015, ensured that enabling environment was created for businesses to thrive in the State.
Ikpeazu maintained that the awards were a confirmation of an award earlier given to him by the World Bank in 2018.
The Governor explained that he had handled the issues of power, funding and capacity building making them become a thing of the past.
He noted that the achievements of the State Government in the Ariaria Independent Power Project, establishment of a SME Bank for loan facility for low income traders in Aba as well as the installation of the Automated Shoe Factory in the State were pointers to the efforts made by his administration to promote trade and commerce as well as ease of doing business in Abia State.
The State Chief Executive further disclosed that the Enyimba Economic City project has attracted foreign investors who are ready to start building infrastructure for the Enyimba Economic City, adding that the interest shown by many international financial institutions speaks volume of the importance and level of success the project would record.
He reiterated that his administration was poised to deliver a robust governance to the people promising to maintain the lead in economic development in Nigeria and Africa and thanked the reputable newspaper for the awards on him.
