Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has reiterated the resolve of his administration to ensure that the state becomes the hub of shoe manufacturing in Nigeria and Africa.
This is as he announced that the proposed NIBRA shoe factory at Obuaku in Ukwa West Local Government area and Abia State automated shoe factory, located in Aba, are expected to commence production in December, 2019.
Ikpeazu, while addressing journalists after a tour of some of his projects in Abia North Senatorial zone, said that the state is determined to be the major supplier of shoes, not only to about 200 million Nigerians that need them, but to others in Africa and other parts of the world.
“Apart from our artisans that are well skilled in shoe manufacturing, we have also entered into agreement with a Brazilian firm, who are also known in the manufacturing of shoes and that gave birth to what is today known as NIBRA. NIBRA is acronym for Nigeria Brazil.
“Infact, NIBRA shoe factory in Ukwa West is a shoe village, because they are building a factory that will employ over 6,000 people, where all kinds of shoes will be manufactured for export.
“And because we expect that shoe factory to start production any time from now, they have even gone ahead to start negotiation with the major shoe importers in Lagos to come and see prototype of the kind of shoes they will produce so that they would be major vendors of those shoes when they hit the market”.
The governor affirmed that work has reached advanced stages in the two shoe factories that are about to be opened in Abia State.
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According to him, “the NIBRA Leather City at Obuaku is progressing rapidly, while the massive factory building for the Abia State Automated Shoe Factory, located in Aba, has been completed, with installation of machines imminent.
“It is my projection that despite the initial delays, our dream of automated shoe production will commence in Abia State before the end of 2019”.
He explained that the Enyimba Economic City Project is also fully on course with key preliminary components of the project being tidied up, stressing that formal groundbreaking and commencement of construction works will hold soonest.
Ikpeazu, who was elated at the progress of shoemakers the State took to China to learn automated shoe production, stated that they are poised to resume at the Abia State Automated Shoe Factory, as pilot producers.
“In the meantime, they are all doing well having expanded their operations and incorporated new skills. One of them just won an award for the Best Female Entrepreneur in Nigeria with a brand new car and N1 million, as award prize, which she has just brought to show to me.
“Who says that something is not happening for those who are dedicated, committed and ready to work in Abia State?.
“My commitment to creating jobs for the teeming youths of Abia State remains unwavering and with the number of different public private partnership ( PPP) projects we have on ground,
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