The Abia State Government has unveiled plans for a high-level Abia Business Roundtable 2026, a strategic forum designed to strengthen collaboration between the government and private sector operators across Nigeria.
The event is scheduled to hold on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, with Governor Alex Otti set to preside over the session.
Speaking at a press briefing at Government House, Umuahia, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, described the roundtable as a structured platform for policy dialogue, idea exchange and partnership building between the state government and business leaders.
According to Kanu, the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment and accelerating economic growth through targeted private sector engagement.
He explained that the forum would allow business owners and investors to directly interact with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, providing them with the opportunity to articulate their operational needs while gaining insight into government support frameworks already in place.
The commissioner emphasized that participants are being drawn from across the country, signaling the state’s intention to position itself as an emerging investment destination in Nigeria.
He noted that discussions at the Abia Business Roundtable 2026 would focus on identifying investment opportunities in Abia State, addressing structural bottlenecks and designing collaborative solutions that enhance productivity and competitiveness.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Abia State Public Private Partnership and Investment Promotions Office, Mr Chinedum Chijioke, confirmed that the roundtable would commence at 10:00 a.m.
Chijioke described the engagement as a deliberate move to institutionalize structured dialogue between the public and private sectors.
He stated that globally, economic development is largely driven by private enterprise, while governments create enabling environments through policy stability, infrastructure development and regulatory clarity.
According to him, the Abia Business Roundtable 2026 is intended to reinforce this model by ensuring that business operators actively contribute to shaping policies that affect the investment climate in the state.
He stressed that this would be the first engagement of its kind under the current administration, adding that it would establish a sustainable framework for continued collaboration beyond the one-day event.
Chijioke further disclosed that participation in the roundtable is strictly by invitation and subject to prior registration. Interested participants are required to register through an official link or by contacting a designated phone number via text message or WhatsApp.
He explained that the government has categorized prospective participants based on annual business turnover, ranging from enterprises generating ₦50 million annually to those exceeding ₦1 billion. The categorization, he said, is intended to ensure balanced representation across different tiers of the private sector.
The Director-General emphasized that the government is targeting active players who generate employment and contribute significantly to Abia’s economic output.
He reiterated that the objective is not merely symbolic engagement but actionable dialogue capable of translating into concrete investment outcomes.
Beyond the roundtable, Chijioke outlined the mandate of the Public Private Partnership and Investment Promotions Office, noting that its functions are divided into three core areas: investment promotion, investment facilitation, and aftercare and advocacy.
He explained that investment promotion focuses on marketing Abia State as an attractive destination for capital inflow, while investment facilitation involves assisting investors through regulatory and procedural processes.
Aftercare and advocacy, he added, ensures continuous support for existing investors and provides a feedback mechanism for improving the business climate.
The upcoming forum, he said, forms part of the aftercare and advocacy component, enabling government to evaluate the effectiveness of its policies and identify areas requiring reform.
Economic analysts view the Abia Business Roundtable 2026 as a significant signal of the state government’s reform-driven approach. By prioritizing structured engagement, the administration appears to be positioning Abia as a competitive subnational economy within Nigeria’s evolving investment landscape.
The presence of senior government officials at the press conference, including representatives from the PPP and Investment Promotions Office, further underscores the importance attached to the initiative.
With the March 5 date approaching, stakeholders in the business community are expected to monitor the outcomes of the engagement, particularly commitments related to infrastructure, regulatory reforms and incentives.
If effectively implemented, the roundtable could mark a turning point in government–business relations in Abia State and strengthen investor confidence in the state’s economic direction.
As preparations intensify, attention will be on how the dialogue translates into measurable investment inflows and sustainable private sector growth in the months ahead.
