The first Made In Abia Product Exhibition has kicked off at Ibeku High School, Umuahia North Local Government Area, South East Zone.
The exhibition, staged by the Abia State Government, is in a bid to ensure development in the state’s industry by encouraging indigenous manufacturers and locally made goods with an aim to create wealth thereby discouraging any form idleness among the citizenry.
Goods on display at the exhibition include an helicopter manufactured by an indigene of the state and green Ogbono seed cultivated by a farmer from Isikwuato Local Government Area (LGA) with assistance of Abia Government Agricultural Programme.
Made in Aba shoes assembled from the Twelve Clusters Shoe Making in Aba, hand made Akwete cloth from Ukwa East LGA, as well as locally made cassava mill engine among others.
The green Ogbono seed which can stay for one year without decay, Aba made shoes, traditional herbal practitioners, were displayed on the Abia Ministry of Agriculture stand with a lot more agricultural product ranging from coconut, pawpaw among others.
In his address, the state Governor; Theodore Orji said that the exhibition is to encourage the production of locally made goods and he charged the creativity of manufacturers to make goods to international standard.
“The Abia state exhibition would proffer the avenue and opportunity for the local manufacturers to interact with the government and table their needs if needs be which would encourage indigenous product,” said Obinna Ekwuribe, a private investor.
The event also showcased an indigenous manufacturer who had a cassava mill that can produce 20 tonnes of cassava flour and another for cassava chips and garri respectively.