Abia Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has received awards of the Most Improved State In Education Development in Nigeria and Most Improved State in Promotion of Made in Nigeria Products and SME in Nigeria by the Business Day Newspapers.
Receiving the awards at Government House Umuahia, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said that the two awards from the Business Day Newspapers would serve as a tonic to his government to move the State forward, noting that his vision for Abia, Ndigbo and Nigeria at large was to leverage on things the State has comparative advantage of to create jobs adding that since 2015 he has ensured enabling environment was created for businesses to thrive in the State. He said the awards are a confirmation of an award earlier given to him by the World Bank in 2018.
The Governor revealed that the issues of power, funding and capacity building have become a thing of the past explaining that he has handled them.
He noted that the achievements of the State Government in the Ariaria Independent Power Project, establishment of a SME Bank for facility for low income traders in Aba as well as the installation of the automated shoe factory in the State are pointers to the efforts made by his administration to promote trade and commerce as well as ease of doing business in Abia State.
He further disclosed that the Enyimba Economic City project has attracted foreign investors who are ready to start building infrastructure for the Enyimba Economic City inorder that interest shown by many International financial institutions speak volume of the importance and level of success the Enyimba Economic City would record.
He reiterated that his administration was poised to deliver a robust governance to the people and promised to maintain the lead in economic development in Nigeria and Africa and thanked the reputable newspaper for the awards on him.
Earlier, while presenting the Awards to the Governor, the Editor, Business Day Newspapers, Mr. Patrick Atuanya said that the two Awards on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was the outcome of the competitiveness and good governance award ceremony organised by the Newspaper company in November 2019 where Abia State was chosen for the awards.
He said that they are witnesses of the transformation and infrastructural development of the State government and lauded the aggressive promotion of made in Nigeria goods of the Governor Ikpeazu’s administration, the lead Abia State has maintained in WAEC results for four consecutive times as well as the initiation of the Enyimba Economic City Project among other achievements of the Governor accounted for the merit awards.
