According to a statement issued by the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos and signed by Ndidiamaka Eze, Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer and Communications Lead, Growth, Trade and Investment, Nigeria Network, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, has concluded a two-day visit to Abia State aimed at deepening the United Kingdom’s partnership with the state in digital transformation and economic development.
The visit highlighted Abia State’s growing reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship, innovation and economic opportunity, while reaffirming the UK’s commitment to supporting efforts to create the conditions for inclusive growth, investment, job creation and digital transformation.
During the visit, Baxter met with Governor Alex Otti and engaged with civil society and electoral stakeholders. He also toured the Geometric Power Plant and participated in the State-Level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reforms Enabling Digital Transformation (SPRIRET) programme under the UK’s Digital Access Programme.
The SPRIRET engagement brought together public and private sector stakeholders to strengthen the policy, regulatory and institutional foundations required for inclusive digital transformation in Abia State.
Discussions between Baxter and Governor Otti focused on opportunities to expand UK-Abia cooperation in trade, investment, innovation, education, energy and digital development. They also covered democratic governance, preparations for forthcoming elections and the importance of maintaining a peaceful and inclusive political environment.
Baxter described Abia as one of Nigeria’s most entrepreneurial states and said the state’s energy was increasingly being supported by a positive policy environment.
“Abia is one of Nigeria’s most entrepreneurial states, and that energy is now being matched by a positive policy environment. Throughout this visit, I have been struck not only by the ambition, innovation and determination I have encountered, but by the deliberate steps the Governor has taken to create the conditions for that ambition to thrive,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of creating an appropriate policy and regulatory environment for digital transformation.
“The same is true in the digital space. Digital transformation depends on getting the policy and regulatory environment right, and we are responding to Abia State’s demonstrated desire to do exactly that. The United Kingdom is proud to support Abia’s digital transformation through our Digital Access Programme and the SPRIRET initiative,” Baxter said.
He added that the UK looked forward to strengthening its partnership with the Abia State Government and its people as part of the wider UK-Nigeria strategic partnership.
Governor Otti thanked Baxter and his team for visiting the state, saying Abia remained open to partnerships capable of strengthening its economic development.
Otti expressed optimism that the engagement would lead to stronger government-to-government and business-to-business partnerships that would support the state’s economic transformation.
The Governor particularly welcomed Baxter’s visit to the Geometric Power Plant, describing electricity as central to the success of Abia’s manufacturing and business community.
Otti said his administration was working to expand reliable electricity supply across the state, stressing that the cost of unreliable power was ultimately higher for businesses because of their dependence on generators, diesel and maintenance.
“Once you have reliable power, whatever the cost is, it is still going to be cheaper than not having reliable power,” the Governor said.
He said the state was also working to expand power supply beyond Aba, including efforts to secure the necessary rights to enable Abia operate as an integrated power market while leveraging infrastructure already available at Geometric Power.
Otti also highlighted Aba’s strong manufacturing base, particularly in footwear, garments and other locally produced goods.
He said the state government was working with partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to improve the finishing, packaging and export opportunities for locally made products.
The Governor assured that the state government would participate in the Digital Access Programme engagement scheduled for Thursday, adding that Abia would continue working with the UK team to identify practical areas of collaboration.
The SPRIRET programme is funded through the UK’s Digital Access Programme and is being implemented in five Nigerian states, including Abia.
