The Abia State Government has expressed a strong desire to collaborate with Israel to develop its economic and technology potentials.
Areas of focus, according to the state government, include human capital development, agriculture, digital economy, and support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
This comes after a visit by Michael Freeman, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, to Governor Alex Otti in Abia’s capital city, Umuahia, last week. Both Ambassador Freeman and Governor Otti highlighted the shared characteristics between Abia and Israel.

“We both have a very young population. We both have a population that is innovative, that is determined to do better than their peers, to continually strive. Nobody really takes no for an answer, okay.
“For us, and I know it’s the same for Nigerians, if the door is closed, then you’re coming through the window and if the window is closed, you’re coming in through the ceiling into the room, and that is very much an Israeli trait,” Freeman said.

“I’m very pleased, very happy to receive Your Excellency, the Ambassador, today in Abia State. I’m more enamoured to listen to you speak passionately about some of the things that are so, so important to us as a government and as a people,” Otti said.
Ambassador Freeman specifically mentioned Israel’s Innov8 programme, which trains young Nigerian entrepreneurs and innovators. “The Israeli government runs a programme called Innov8, that trains young Nigerian entrepreneurs and innovators,” Ambassador Freeman said. “We mentor them for six to nine months and at the end of the programme, we help them attract funding.”
The Ambassador also pointed to Israel’s expertise in agriculture, particularly its water-saving technologies, which could be highly beneficial to Abia’s agricultural sector. According to him, the governments of Abia and Israel could do a lot together in the area of agriculture, using technology and innovation.
Governor Otti welcomed the idea of collaboration and expressed his admiration for Israel’s understanding of the modern economy. He emphasised the importance of Abia’s human resources, the “can-do spirit” and resilience of its people.
The Governor also announced plans to build an Abia Innovation Center to further support innovation and digitalization in the state.