Speaking during the event held at Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, reiterated his commitment in making "Made in Abia" goods a global brand.

According to him, “It is an undisputable fact that our administration since its inception in 2015 has been in the forefront of projecting and promoting Made-In-Abia products and goods through various policies and campaigns which have, to a great extent, placed the State as the MSME capital of Nigeria and Aba as the commercial and industrial hub of the West African sub-region.

“It is indeed heartwarming to note that the ABSOA Indigenous Content Campaign is designed to project and promote products manufactured or produced in Abia, special services rendered by Abians and the outstanding personalities who have distinguished themselves in their chosen career, profession or trade.”

In her own remarks, wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, PhD, enjoined all Abians to support the campaign to buy locally made goods and services as their contribution to the rapid economic development of the state.

Mrs Ikpeazu who personally served locally made rice popularly known as Osikapa Abia to the guests assured that Abia rice is more nutritious than its foreign counterparts and called on Abia women to always insist on Abia rice or nothing. She emphasized the need to sustain this campaign to increase patronage of indigenous products and assured consumers of as much satisfaction as could have been gotten from “over rated foreign brands”.

The highlight of the event was the wife of the Governor, assisted by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Lady Vivian Oko Chukwu, cooking and serving Abia Rice meal along with the Deputy Governor to Abians who attended the event.