Alex Otti Approves ₦306m Tech Grant for Abia

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved a ₦306 million technology-driven business grant scheme known as “NKATA” to support entrepreneurs across the 17 local government areas of the state.

Speaking during the unveiling of the initiative and while receiving the management team of the Abia State Technology Skills Acquisition Centre, the governor said the programme was designed to empower businesses, create jobs, and promote sustainable economic growth across the state.

Governor Otti explained that the intervention was intentionally structured to accommodate different categories of beneficiaries to ensure inclusiveness and wider access to economic opportunities. 

He stated that beneficiaries would be required to meet specific conditions before accessing the grant.

“I want to congratulate everyone. The ₦306 million is available, but beneficiaries must meet all the necessary conditions.

“In a few months’ time, I want to hear that this intervention has yielded results, not just in monetary terms, but in job creation, poverty reduction, and empowerment of our people,” the governor said.

Governor Otti noted that the initiative aligns with his administration’s vision of building a productive, self-reliant, and innovation-driven economy. 

He stressed that the government deliberately chose to invest in ventures capable of generating long-term economic value rather than supporting consumption-driven programmes.

“We have gone forth and back on this, and we are convinced that this is one of the ways to support and help our people,” he stated.

“The easiest way to spend money is to give it to people who consume it, but we will receive value when it is invested, and that investment will yield returns. This is our own way of intervening,” Governor Otti added.

He further explained that the programme forms part of broader economic empowerment efforts aimed at equipping residents of Abia State with practical skills and resources to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

“The goal is to support and train Abia people so that they can become self-reliant and employers on their own,” the governor said, urging beneficiaries to utilise the opportunity responsibly by expanding their businesses, creating employment, and contributing to the economic growth of the state.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Abia State Technology Skills Acquisition Centre, Peter Ukonu, described the NKATA initiative as a strategic intervention designed to support businesses, reduce poverty, and generate employment opportunities across the state.

According to him, the programme adopts a technology-based support model rather than direct cash disbursement to ensure accountability and productivity.

“We are not giving cash to businesses directly. We are actually doing so through technology service providers,” Mr Ukonu explained.

He stated that the scheme would bring together technology service providers, software firms, hardware suppliers, internet providers, and business mentors, including professionals in the diaspora, to assist beneficiaries with digital tools, automation, and artificial intelligence solutions.

Mr Ukonu added that the programme was designed to help businesses transition from survival to growth, improve productivity, and strengthen the state’s technology-driven economy. 

He noted that eligible beneficiaries must be residents of Abia State who actively run businesses and pay taxes within the state.