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Abia State seeks partnership with NAADI to boost agriculture and economic growth
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Governor Alex Otti announced that the Abia State Government is prepared to collaborate with the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industrial Development Initiative NAADI to enhance the state's economy and strengthen value addition in key agricultural sectors. Governor Otti made this statement during a meeting with a NAADI delegation, led by its Director, Felix Charles, at the Government House in Umuahia. He noted that NAADI's objectives align with his administration's economic agenda and pledged his team's readiness to work closely with the initiative. Otti emphasized that meaningful economic growth requires processing and industrialization, not just raw material production. He highlighted Abia's rich endowments in palm oil, cassava, cocoa, cashew nuts, rubber, leather works, and fabrics, stressing the need to process these products beyond subsistence levels for greater economic value. Charles explained that NAADI is a Federal Government initiative designed to promote agricultural participation, strengthen agro-processing value chains, and improve access to international markets. He confirmed that Abia would be the ninth state to adopt and launch the initiative, benefiting from pillars such as bridging capacity gaps, promoting agribusiness, improving market access, and addressing funding constraints. The meeting included Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, Chief of Staff Caleb Ajagba, Commissioner for Trade and Commerce Salome Obiukwu, and Special Adviser on Trade and Commerce Nwaka
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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