PEBEC Partners with Abia State to Transform Business Environment, Empower Local Entrepreneurs

In a bold move to strengthen Nigeria’s economic foundation from the grassroots up, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has formed a strategic alliance with the Abia State Government to boost the ease of doing business and unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The partnership was officially launched during a high-level technical session held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, drawing together key players from the federal and state governments, the private sector, and development partners. The goal: to dismantle bureaucratic roadblocks and streamline business processes for sustainable growth.

This initiative is part of PEBEC’s broader National Action Plan (NAP), which seeks to localize business reforms and promote federal-state collaboration as a driver of economic development. By decentralizing reform efforts, PEBEC is ensuring that real, measurable change happens where it matters most—at the grassroots level.

Director General of PEBEC, Zahrah Audu, underscored the importance of inclusive engagement in reform design and delivery:

“We want to empower local businesses by truly listening to their needs and removing the barriers they face. This is about co-creating solutions that work for the people and within their local realities,” she stated.

The session featured practical workshops and in-depth discussions focused on critical areas that affect everyday entrepreneurs, including:

Starting and registering a business Obtaining construction permits Registering property Paying taxes Enforcing contracts

These are recurring pain points for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly in states like Abia where entrepreneurship is vibrant but often stifled by outdated processes.

Key stakeholders present included Gabriel Oyemi, Reform Leader with the World Bank-supported State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) program, and Jennifer Uko-Obasi, Senior Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on Ease of Doing Business.

“What makes this initiative impactful is the alignment across all levels of government. We are not working in silos,” Uko-Obasi noted. “Our commitment is to implementation—reforms that are not only smart on paper but deliver measurable impact.”

Beyond policy dialogue, the partnership is set to:

Digitize government services Build institutional capacity Improve transparency and accountability Reduce delays and eliminate rent-seeking in public service delivery

These steps are critical to increasing investor confidence, particularly for a state like Abia that is already a hub for manufacturing, trade, leatherworks, fashion, and innovation.

Abia’s local business owners welcomed the PEBEC-Abia State partnership with enthusiasm, describing it as a much-needed intervention that could reposition the state as a magnet for investment and enterprise.

The reforms are expected to significantly reduce regulatory burdens and approval times, giving SMEs a clearer, faster, and more predictable path to growth.

As Nigeria intensifies efforts to attract both domestic and foreign investment, the synergy between PEBEC and the Abia State Government stands out as a model for how intergovernmental cooperation can drive real progress and inclusive economic transformation.

With implementation underway, all eyes are now on Abia as it prepares to chart a new course for entrepreneurship—one where systems work, businesses thrive, and the future is built on efficiency, innovation, and opportunity.