Otti further assured that that many businesses would be investing in the State in the months ahead following discussions with leading investors who are keen to take advantage of the economic promises of the New Abia.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has stated that he is neither a director nor board member of Signature bank, adding that he resigned his position from the bank before taking office as Governor.
Otti explained that he had served as one of the founders and the pioneer non executive director of the bank and resigned 8 months ago to take up his current position as Governor.
He said; “I wish to state that until about 8 months ago, I served on the board of Signature Bank as a pioneer non executive director and one of its founders until my present role. It’s also important to indicate that I had to resign before taking up the role I am occupying at this time. So, I am here not as a director or a founder of Signature bank ,but as the Governor of Abia State and a guest.”
Otti ,who stated this during the official opening of the bank in Umuahia and Aba, explained that the opening of the two branches of the bank is a major testimony to the faith members of the business community have began to have in the State as well as the opportunities for steady economic growth the present administration promises.
He assured that the state is open for business and urged investors to take up the opportunity, stressing that his administration is poised to offer support.
“Abia is open for business and anyone who wants to invest in Abia, be it in banking, finance, trade or major businesses; we will be there to support you. And when you have erected your building and you are ready to open for business,invite us , we will come to open it with you.
“We promised at the inception of this administration that we shall be a business friendly government, adopting robust initiatives to enhance our ease of doing business ranking, supporting micro small and medium scale enterprises.
“We can confidently say that Abia has become a strategic investment zone for business planing to tap into new frontier of opportunities.
Otti further assured that that many businesses would be investing in the State in the months ahead following discussions with leading investors who are keen to take advantage of the economic promises of the New Abia.
“Our dear State has become a place of serious interest for investors including major foreign conglomerates on account of our active commitment to turning every part of the State into a major centre of enterprise. Our guiding philosophy as a government is firmed on being proactive in decision making , cutting down barriers to enterprise success and answering the important questions of security , critical infrastructure and environmental sustainability.”
He stated that the State government would want to see a partnership between the bank and the Abia business community, assuring that the government would do everything possible to create a conducive environment for all businesses to thrive.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Board of Signature Bank, Dr. Mutiu Summonu , who was represented by
Mazi Uzoma Nwankwo, pledged that the bank would be an active participant in the drive by the Governor to transform Abia into one of the best States in Nigeria.