Governor Alex Otti Launches ₦306m ‘NKATA’ Tech Grant to Boost MSMEs

 

The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has officially launched a ₦306 million tech-enabling business grant titled “NKATA” to support micro, small, and medium enterprises across all 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

The initiative, unveiled during a meeting with the management team of the Abia State Technology Skills Acquisition Centre (ATSAC), is explicitly designed to empower local entrepreneurs, promote inclusiveness, and drive long-term economic growth.

Speaking at the launch, Governor Otti emphasized that the initiative reflects his administration’s shift away from direct cash handouts toward sustainable, productive investments that generate measurable economic value.

“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,” Otti stated. “This is our own way of intervening.”

While confirming that the ₦306 million funding is fully available, the governor stressed that beneficiaries must meet strict prerequisite conditions to access the grant. He added that the program’s success would be measured by tangible socio-economic metrics rather than just the disbursement of funds.

“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 added.

To prevent the misuse of funds, the project features a unique disbursement structure that eliminates direct cash payouts to business owners.

The Director-General of ATSAC, Mr. Peter Ukonu, explained that the NKATA program will instead deploy support directly through verified technology providers. This ensures that the resources are utilized strictly for digital infrastructure, tools, and business expansion rather than being diverted to personal expenditures.

“The goal is to support and train Abia people so that they can become self-reliant and employers of their own.” — Governor Alex Otti

The grant forms a core component of a broader economic roadmap by the Abia State Government to equip its youth with technical skills, transition traditional businesses into the digital economy, and build a self-reliant, innovation-driven regional market.