DIPLOMAN TIMES

Abia Governor Alex Otti has approved in principle a deeper partnership with Ethnocentrique Limited aimed at expanding fashion production, developing specialised skills and strengthening the state's position in fashion manufacturing and exports.

Governor Otti gave the approval during a September 15, 2026 working visit by Ethnocentrique Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Irunna Ejibe and representatives of the organisation and its partners. The proposed partnership is intended to move beyond skills training toward larger-scale industrial production.

Otti said the state would focus on creating an environment capable of attracting and retaining investment. He also advocated expanding existing facilities and concentrating production in Abia rather than duplicating factories across multiple locations.

The Governor said the state's Export Growth Lab, established in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, is intended to help businesses improve quality assurance and prepare locally produced goods for export markets. He also identified electricity and other infrastructure as important to industrial expansion.

Ethnocentrique said its two-year Fashion Future Programme, supported by the Mastercard Foundation, had trained and certified more than 6,000 young people, supported 4,240 small businesses and 1,460 mastercraft persons, trained 100 business development service providers and generated more than 11,000 direct and secondary jobs, including support for 2,240 female entrepreneurs.

The organisation said a proposed four-year scale-up could target at least 20,000 additional young people in Abia and introduce industrial pattern making, production management, technical packs, sizing, export compliance and supply-chain practices. The state government has directed officials and industry representatives to work with Ethnocentrique on the partnership details and required interventions.