8th Made-in-Aba Trade Fair: How Senator Abaribe is Selling Aba Products to the World.
It was a beehive of activities on the 9th of November 2021, at the opening ceremony of the 8th Made-In-Aba Trade Fair, organised by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in conjunction with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in Abuja.
The event which started at the FCT Sports Complex, Garki, Abuja, from 9th November 2021 and billed to end on 13th November, 2021 has attracted local designers of Aba-made bags, shoes, belts clothing, bed liners, duvets, solar system accessories, beauty accessories and Senator’s suits, amongst other products.
No fewer than 79 firms exhibited their Aba – made products on the first day of the fair with the theme: “Business Opportunities Beyond COVID-19 Drawbacks”. Some of the companies which exhibited their products at the fairground include: Cemeviuc Global Ventures, Padic Global Nigeria, Rossy Julie Ventures, Prince Global Designers, Ojaik Concept, De Gold Attraction, Chibest Exclusive Designs, Mikky Fashion, Ejipee Enterprises, etc.
Others are: Commy Fashion and Design, Emerenwa Collection, Goodies World, Vic-Pacis Outfit, Adic Designs Ltd, etc.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Senate, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan commended both the organizers and the exhibitors, stressing that “this fair is a salutary reminder of what is expected of the people”.
The Senate President who was represented by Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru emphasised the fact that such fairs have the potential to generate foreign exchange and also create jobs for the people.
Senator Lawan however, noted that aside government interventions, one thing that is seriously needed is the right environment for business people to operate.
Expressing satisfaction with the success of the fair, Lawan said “The nation is proud of all participants. Your efforts are admirable. However, you people should try to be more innovative”.
In his remark, Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, commended the facilitator, Senator Abaribe for the laudable initiative of Made-In-Aba Trade Fair in Abuja. “I am happy to hear that it is an annual event. We pray that the event will continue”, Senator Yahaya noted.
Also, Senator Abaribe stated that he was glad that the exhibitors were able to surmount the pressure of COVID-19 which deprived them from hosting the event in 2020.
Expressing his appreciation to SMEDAN, Abaribe said “I thank SMEDAN as our partner since 2013. We have always had the required support. We also thank the exhibitors. The exhibitors are able to surmount all the difficulties of leaving the South East to come to Abuja”.
“When we talk about the Constituency project, Nigerians always have doubts. I want to say that the Made-In-Aba fair is one of the zonal intervention projects run by the National Assembly”., Abaribe added.
In his goodwill message, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu commended the promoters of Made-In-Aba fair saying it is the right step in the right direction.
Senator Kalu said “I thank Abaribe for bringing our men and women from Aba to Abuja. I hope the fair will not stop. Made-In-Aba can solve a lot of problems. I urge Federal Government to provide electricity”.
Also speaking, Honourable Minister of State, Mines and Steel, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah who described Aba people as “great people with great ingenuity” said Aba people have everything required to grow the economy in Aba. Dr Ogah also reasoned that the fair, exhibitors can have shared prosperity in the industry.
Commending SMEDAN and the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo for their unalloyed support, to see that the Aba fair keeps running, Dr Ogah said “this trade fair is for us to think out of the box and also for us to create a better craft in the state”.
“Aba can take care of this nation in terms of leather works. This event will become a national event. We will support Abaribe anyhow. The Minister of Trade has done so much for the encouragement of trade in Aba. I also thank SMEDAN for continuing the project”, Dr Ogah said.
In his speech, Director General of SMEDAN, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda emphasised that the Made-In-Aba fair has a positive effect on connecting the local players with the outside world.
According to Radda, the programme aims to expose entrepreneurs from Aba business cluster for further development and standardisation of their products to meet national and international markets”.
“The fair is a veritable platform for nurturing local entrepreneurial capabilities even as MSMES constitute the primary source of new jobs in the economy as well as play a critical role as a safety net for the bulk of the population”, Radda said.
Radda equally disclosed that MSMES clusters in Aba have already considered the fair as an annual tradition, always looking forward to the event, adding that his agency is responsible for the development and promotion of MSMES in the country.
The DG listed advantages of the fair to include attraction of customers, building brand image, creating public awareness, appreciating and promoting home made goods and services, etc.
Speaking to TRUE VISION, at the venue, some of the exhibitors, officials, buyers and other participants bared their minds on their experiences and expectations for the fair.
EXHIBITORS, PARTICIPANTS SPEAK
MICHAEL AGU IROEGBULAM (Exhibitor)
I really appreciate the programme. This is my first time coming to the exhibition. I expect I will make sales. I heard about it two months ago through some friends. I hope to sell and make contact which will ultimately boost my clients’ patronage. I have participated in such a fair at Asokoro Abuja. Senator Abaribe, the facilitator is a very helpful person and this exposure will help us to sell our products.
CHIBUEZE ONAH (BUYER).
I got to know about the event because one of my friends put it in his status. So I have to leave my office to be here to come and see if I can buy things. I knew it must be something good, coming from Senator Abaribe. I am a strong advocate of made in Nigeria goods and what we can produce in my place. I am impressed with what I have seen. We have domesticated most of those fashions we initially buy outside Nigeria. I had attended one before but I don’t know if it is the same with this.
NNENNA NJOKU OF CHIBEST EXCLUSIVE DESIGNS.
We have been coming to this fair and we always got to know about it through the facilitator, Senator Abaribe. My expectation is that people should come and see what is being made from Aba, so that they know that we can equally produce most of those things that go and buy overseas. The Senator is a good man. He wants to bring out that business talent in us and to showcase Abia products to the world.
MY NAME IS ANN AGBAIGBA FROM OBINGWA.
I am one of the officials coordinating the exhibitors under the platform of Abaribe Made-In-Aba Trade Fair. So far, the fair has been good. People long for it and those that came are happy. We are happy for Senator Abaribe for making it possible. He wants to carry his indigenous people along and bring out their talents. I have been with the organization for up to 20 years. It will close on Saturday and our expectations are that people buy their goods so that they don’t come here without selling their goods.
LUKE BLESSING CHINWE, CEO OF CHIBEST EXCLUSIVE DESIGNS.
I deal in men’s wear like Senator’s suites and caps. It started after my service in Uyo after studying Maths and Statistics at Abia State. Polytechnic, Aba. I searched for a job without getting any. So I changed my mindset and entered into the fashion business. I started selling initially before I went to learn how to sow. That is how I became a beneficiary of the made in Aba fair sponsored by Senator Abaribe. Fashion business is lucrative and it is my passion now. I have employed some workers now. People should be free to learn such trades. Aba made fabrics are better than other fabrics from overseas. Some of the differences are that those from overseas have made names and that is exactly what we are trying to build with this fair.
PRINCE PETER ANYANWU (EJIPEE INVESTMENT)
We have been coming to the fair every year. It is being facilitated by Senator Abaribe who we are very proud of. We thank God because I do get contacts whenever I come here. Since we met at the fair, I have been doing Waybill for her and we have been doing business.
Corroborating Anyanwu,, one of his clients, Sandra Anani who met him at the fair said “I met Ejipee Enterprises first at the fair about four years ago and since then, we have been doing business. I am an advocate of Made in Nigeria goods”.
OGBONNA ROSE UBAKU.
This is my fourth time coming. This year is quite different from the other editions that I attended because it is very big. The market is big too. We just opened yesterday and we are hoping patronage will improve in the next few days. I expect people to come and patronize us so that we sell all our goods. We appreciate our Senator because he is doing what he is supposed to do. He is a very good senator.
