By James Adamu
The Abia State Government has concluded arrangements to host the maiden edition of the African Diaspora Conference and Expo (AFRICANDO), as part of a deliberate push to position the state to benefit from the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The conference is scheduled to hold from November 17 to 19 in Umuahia, the state capital, and will bring together African and American business leaders, educators, government policymakers and administrators, trade and investment experts, bankers, and representatives of international organisations.
The gathering is aimed at deepening trade ties and expanding markets for African products in the international marketplace.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Chief of Staff to Governor Alex Otti, Mr Caleb Ajagba, explained that Abia was chosen to host the inaugural AFRICANDO because of the state’s emergence as an industrial hub under the current administration.
He recalled that since assuming office, Governor Otti had prioritised infrastructure, security, power supply, manpower development, and entrepreneurial capacity in order to unlock the potential of the state and its people.
According to Ajagba, Abia’s manufacturing base — particularly in Aba — offers enormous opportunities for international business partnerships and investment.
“Aba is a place where anything can be manufactured,” he said, noting that AFRICANDO is designed to provide small and medium-scale businesses with the resources they need to grow.
Beyond making funds available for the acquisition of equipment, the Chief of Staff said the Otti administration had put in place policies and programmes to create international markets for locally produced goods.
He disclosed that the state government had simplified the registration process to encourage participation in the conference, and promised that it would work closely with the organisers to ensure the event delivers practical economic benefits to businesses and the state.
Also speaking, the President of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa, Mr Fred Oladeinde, said plans were underway to establish a trade centre and a civil society network to facilitate access to international markets, investment opportunities, and business partnerships for local enterprises.
He explained that the proposed platforms would work with the Abia Global Chamber of Commerce, the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, the Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs, and other partners to strengthen trade connections.
Oladeinde said manufacturers and entrepreneurs in Aba, a major commercial and manufacturing centre, stood to benefit from improved access to markets across Nigeria and West Africa.
He added that the initiative would also support advocacy for a long-term extension of AGOA, following its reported two-year extension to December 2028.
According to him, the expo’s theme — “Deepening U.S.–Africa Commercial Ties in the Area of AfCFTA and AGOA” — will provide an opportunity to examine how existing trade frameworks can be translated into greater commercial opportunities for African businesses.
He said discussions would cover eight sectors, including agriculture, consumer goods, financial services, insurance, and healthcare.
Oladeinde also disclosed that outstanding Africans would receive the Medal of Glory Award during the event, while the proposed trade centre and civil society network are expected to be unveiled during the three-day expo in Umuahia.
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