Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has announced that the proposed automated shoe factory in the state will roll out its first set of shoes in the first quarter of 2020, as installation of machines imported from China is ongoing at the factory site in Aba, the state’s commercial hub.
The governor stated this on Sunday in Lagos at a fashion show tagged ‘Style by Zenith,’ an annual fashion show organised by Zenith Bank Plc to create a platform for the exhibition of garment and finished leather products that are made in Nigeria.
About 24 entrepreneurs from the Aba garment and finished leather clusters—comprising shoe, belt and bag makers— represented Abia at this year’s edition of the show.
The Abia representatives were selected at the maiden edition of ‘Enyimba Business Fair’ organised by Zenith Bank plc in conjunction with Virtual Xchange Group and Abia State Government, with the aim of showcasing the ingenuity of the people of the state and facilitating access and exposure to both national and international markets for “Made-in-Aba products.
Ikpeazu, who was keynote speaker at the 2019 edition of ‘Style by Zenith’ restated the total commitment of his administration to the relentless promotion and expansion of goods and services manufactured by Abians as a key ingredient of the economic development plans of his government.
The governor, who was invited by the bank’s management to speak at the event in recognition of his commitment and support to the growth and expansion of locally made products, stated that his administration would consistently support local producers, as that is the only way to grow the economy of the state and country at large.
He thanked the board and management of Zenith Bank Plc for creating such a wonderful platform for local producers and assured them that the finished leather and garment industry in Aba is a goldmine with guaranteed return on investments.
He challenged other financial institutions and discerning investors to take advantage of the huge opportunities in Aba and the entire state, assuring that the people would work with them to fully recoup their investments.
The event was witnessed by Babajide Sanwo Olu, governor of Lagos State; chairman of Zenith Bank plc, Jim Ovia; Ebenezer Onyeagwu, group managing director of the bank, and other top executives of the bank.
Abia delegation was led by Onyema Wachuku, commissioner for Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED). He was accompanied by Nkwachukwu Agomuo, permanent secretary in the ministry, and Ngozi Nwosu, head of department, MSME, of the ministry, as well as Sam Hart, director-general, Abia State Marketing and Quality Control Agency.
