Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has launched a ₦306 million tech-enabled business support programme known as NKATA, in a move aimed at helping small businesses scale operations, adopt digital tools and create jobs across the state’s 17 Local Government Areas.
The programme, unveiled in partnership with the Abia State Technology Skills Acquisition Centre (ATSAC), is designed to support entrepreneurs through technology service providers instead of direct cash disbursement, a structure the state government says will improve accountability and ensure the intervention drives measurable business growth.
Speaking during the unveiling of the initiative, Otti said the grant aligns with his administration’s push to build a productive and innovation-driven economy in Abia State.
“I want to congratulate everyone. The ₦306 million is available, but beneficiaries must meet all the necessary conditions,” the governor said.
“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.”
According to the governor, the NKATA initiative was intentionally structured to accommodate different categories of business owners across the state, with the goal of widening access to economic opportunities and supporting more entrepreneurs.
He noted that the government chose to invest in productive ventures capable of generating long-term economic value instead of short-term consumption.
“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,” Otti 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.”
The governor added that the programme forms part of broader economic empowerment efforts targeted at helping Abia residents become self-reliant and employers of labour through technology-enabled entrepreneurship.
He urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the opportunity by expanding their businesses, creating jobs and contributing to the economic growth of the state.
Earlier while presenting the project, ATSAC Director-General, Peter Ukonu, described NKATA as a strategic intervention designed to support businesses, reduce poverty and improve employment opportunities across Abia State.
Unlike conventional grant schemes where cash is transferred directly to beneficiaries, Ukonu explained that NKATA will deploy support through technology providers and business support partners.
“We are not giving cash to businesses directly. We are actually doing so through technology service providers,” he said.
According to him, the structure was deliberately introduced to ensure that technology resources are used strictly for business expansion, productivity and operational improvement instead of personal spending.
The programme will connect businesses with technology companies, software firms, hardware suppliers and internet service providers to help them adopt digital tools, automation systems and artificial intelligence solutions.
Ukonu said mentors, including professionals in the diaspora, will also support participating businesses by helping them develop viable proposals and identify technology solutions suitable for their operations.
He explained that the broader objective is to help businesses move beyond survival level into sustainable growth.
“The goal is to help Abia businesses move from survival to growth, improve productivity, create jobs and build a new generation of technology-enabling businesses,” he said.
Eligibility for the programme will be limited to Abia residents who actively run businesses and pay taxes within the state.
The launch of NKATA comes as state governments across Nigeria increasingly explore technology-driven interventions to support small businesses and improve economic participation among young people.
For Abia State, the initiative also reflects a growing focus on integrating digital tools into local enterprise development, particularly for SMEs seeking to improve operations, expand market reach and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving economy.
