Abia State Government has accepted to work in partnership with Sterling Bank PLC in its drive towards promotion of Made-in-Aba goods.
The State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu disclosed this at Government House, Umuahia, when he welcomed the Management of the Bank led by the Executive Director, Institutional Banking Division of the Bank, Mr Emmanuel Emefinim in his office.
Ikpeazu, who observed that the bank was doing something deeper and more profound than the conventional banking, expressed excitement that the bank has keyed into the State Government’s initiative.
He expressed optimism that with the linkage the Bank was providing, partnership between his administration and the bank would bear fruits.
While insisting that his administration’s commitment to the Made in Aba Project was unwaivering, the Governor called on the bank to support the move.
Dr Ikpeazu disclosed that the initial problems confronting local producers in Aba including the issue of power and automation, has been surmounted by his adding that even the private people have keyed fully into the initiative.
The State Chief Executive expressed the hope that with the assistance of Sterling Bank, local producers in Aba could now compete favourably with their counterparts elsewhere.
According to him, the Federal government has announced that the Nigeria Military was prepared to continue placing orders for military boots produced in Aba, having earlier procured 50,000 pairs of military boots produced in Aba.
In his speech earlier, Executive Director, Institutional Banking Division of Sterling Bank PLC, Mr. Emmanuel Emefinim, while declaring the Bank’s readiness to partner the State in the production of local goods, disclosed that the Bank was already in touch with the Kano State Government and local producers of leather to get the best quality leather as raw materials for the Aba leather cluster.
He argued that what the Bank was doing was a new initiative that has never happened before, stressing that their visit to the State was to validate the position of the Bank in that regard.
According to him, the Bank was determined for an end-to-end partnership from sourcing of raw materials to the production and sale of the Made in Abia shoes. He thanked the Governor for what he is doing for the people of the State as well as for creating enabling business environment in the State.
The visit was witnessed by Commissioners for Finance and SME Development, Dr. Aham Uko and Mr. Onyema Wachuku respectively, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Dr. ACB Agbazuere, Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo among others.
