The Anambra State Government has restated its commitment to creating a technology-driven, investor-friendly environment during the inaugural State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) technical session and town hall meeting held on July 8, 2025, at the International Conference Center in Awka.
The event was part of a nationwide tour by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), aimed at fostering direct engagement between federal reform teams, state officials, business leaders, and entrepreneurs.
Representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim welcomed participants and emphasized the administration’s strategy of using data and measurable targets to drive economic reform. He highlighted Anambra’s current ranking as 7th nationally and 1st in the South East in ease of doing business, noting that reforms would continue with a focus on planning, technology, and accountability.
Gabriel Ohiemi, a reform leader from the PEBEC Secretariat, stated that the engagement was designed to collect feedback and promote practical reforms across states to enhance the business environment. Representing the Director General, Princess Zahra Mustafa, he stressed the importance of state-level action to complement federal initiatives.
Anambra’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, outlined ongoing reforms including major road infrastructure projects and digitized land acquisition processes, which are helping to streamline the investment landscape. Similarly, Commissioner for Industry Hon. Christian Udechukwu pointed to strong collaboration with the federal government in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through grants and partnerships.
Clement Chukwuka, Managing Director of the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA), noted that the agency provides funding to SMEs at significantly lower interest rates than commercial banks. He encouraged business owners to maintain financial transparency to better access government support.
The technical session featured reform leaders Gabriel Ohiemi, Ifeanyi Icheke, and Oluwatofunmi Odunladi, who commended Anambra’s consistent reform reporting and urged the state to intensify efforts ahead of the next national ranking in December 2025.
A town hall panel discussion, led by the PEBEC team, featured key members of the State Executive Council, including the MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, and commissioners for Industry, Lands, Power, and Water Resources, among others.
Discussions centered on how technology is central to the state’s development agenda. Highlights included the ANAMGIS platform, which digitizes land administration, and the Grievance Redress Mechanism, which responds to investor concerns. The adoption of the .anambrastate.gov.ng domain and expansion of broadband infrastructure were also emphasized as key enablers for digital governance and business confidence.
The panel also showcased Solution Lens, a civic technology platform that enables citizens to monitor and report on state government projects, promoting transparency and accountability.
Through integrated reforms, digital innovation, and infrastructure expansion, the Soludo-led administration aims to further position Anambra as a competitive and business-ready state. As the next PEBEC assessment approaches, government officials reaffirmed their dedication to continuous, data-driven reform.
