Edo State Ministry of Business Trade and Investment

31/05/2026

👉 EDO STATE OPENS ITS TRADE DOORS TO UK INVESTORS

The Commissioner, Ministry of Business Trade and Investment, Hon. Omoh Anabor delivers a compelling call to action at the official launch reception of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) UK, which took place at the Nigerian High Commission in London.

27/05/2026

EDO STATE OPENS ITS TRADE DOORS TO UK INVESTORS

By Daniel-Nwosu Nohunwan Lucy

The Edo State Government, under the leadership of the Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has unveiled sweeping opportunities across agriculture, energy, mining, tourism, Innovation and technology, as it opens its trade doors to UK Investors in its investment drive.

In a goodwill message before a distinguished gathering of business leaders, investors and members of both the Nigerian-British business communities, the Commissioner for Business Trade and Investment, Hon. Omoh Anabor delivered a compelling call to action at the official launch reception of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) UK, which took place at the Nigerian High Commission in London, inviting UK entrepreneurs and institutions to explore the vast commercial frontier opening up in Edo State.

The Commissioner set out a vision of a modern, diversified economy ready to welcome international capital. He said Edo State is not only inviting investors, but offering partnerships built on trust, mutual growth, and long-term sustainability, while underlining that the government of Edo State sees investment not as a transaction but as a relationship.

The message to the UK business community was direct and clear: visit Edo State, explore its opportunities, and help build a prosperous future together. He pointed that the collaboration between Edo State government and the UK business community can unlock enormous economic opportunities that will benefit both the people and businesses.

Earlier in his welcome address, the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce NBCC, Prince Abimbola Olashore, highlighted the organisation’s renewed vision of creating stronger commercial relationships, while encouraging investments, and supporting business networking opportunities between the Nigerian and British enterprises.

In his remarks, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Execellency, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu reaffirmed the commitment of the Commission to supporting trade diplomacy, private sector collaboration, and economic engagement between both nations.

Delivering the keynote speech, the UK member of Parliament/UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria Ghana, Florence Eshalomi, spoke passionately about the importance of economic cooperation, diaspora engagement, and sustainable commercial partnerships between the both countries.

The official launch had in attendance, business diplomats, executives, investors, including the Group CEO Landmark Africa Group, Paul Onwuanibe, the MD, First Bank of Nigeria, representatives of Access Bank UK, members of the Trade and Investment Section of the Nigerian High Commission, and other distinguished UK and Nigerian business leaders.

Highlight of activities was a toast to the game changing event, where expectations were to move from talks to trade and have trade testimonials.

Photo Caption 1: The Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo

Photo Caption 2: The Commissioner, Edo State Ministry of Business Trade and Investment MBTI

Photo Caption 3: The Commissioner, MBTI in a hand shake with the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu

Photo Caption 4: The Commissioner MBTI with the UK member of Parliament/UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria Ghana, Florence Eshalomi

Photo Caption 5: Group photograph

Photo Caption 6 -13: Photo Speaks

27/05/2026

EID-EL-KABIR & CHILDREN’S DAY GREETINGS

Warm greetings to you and your family on this special occasion of Eid-El-Kabir and Children’s Day.

May this season bring peace, joy, abundant blessings, and renewed hope to every home. As we celebrate our children, our pride and the future of our nation, may they continue to grow in wisdom, love, and greatness.

Happy Eid-El-Kabir and Happy Children’s Day!

Hon. Omoh Anabor
Honourable Commissioner Business, Trade & Investment, Edo State.

27/04/2026

The Edo State Government, in line with the 5-point SHINE Agenda of His Excellency the Governor, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed its commitment to economic growth, trade expansion and investment promotion as the Ministry of Business, Trade and Investment participated in the April Breakfast Meeting of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, themed “UK-Nigeria Trade Corridors: Enhancing Bilateral Trade Flow, Connectivity and Investment Mobility.”

Highlights:

- Edo State Economic Strategies
- Hon. Omoh Anabor Bags Award

21/04/2026

EDO GOVT UNVEILS AGGRESSIVE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS DRIVE, TARGETS EXPORT BOOM AND SME EXPANSION – ANABOR

The Edo State Government has unveiled a sweeping package of reforms aimed at accelerating investment inflows, improving the ease of doing business, and positioning the state as a leading industrial and export hub in Nigeria.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Commissioner for Business, Trade and Investment, Hon. Omoh Anabor, disclosed that the state is currently overhauling its business regulatory framework in collaboration with relevant agencies to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and streamline investment processes.

According to him, a new “framework document” has been developed to simplify key business procedures, including approvals, land acquisition processes, and policy access for investors across sectors.

“We have reviewed the documents guiding business processes. Any investor coming into the state now can access clearer, faster procedures,” Anabor said, noting that dedicated investment desks have also been created within the ministry to provide structured guidance for prospective investors.

A major focus of the administration, he explained, is strengthening small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), which he described as the backbone of the state’s economic transformation agenda.

To address structural challenges facing small businesses, the government has initiated targeted interventions, including export-readiness training programmes in partnership with logistics firm DHL.

The initiative, he said, is designed to help entrepreneurs understand export procedures, packaging standards, and international market requirements.

“We discovered many SMEs lack logistics knowledge and export capacity. We are closing that gap through training and structured support,” he noted.

The Commissioner also revealed that the state is working with regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure product certification and compliance before goods are taken to international markets.

In a bold industrialisation push, the government is developing a centralised platform for local products described as a “Made-in-Edo goods hub,” which will function as a coordinated marketplace linking producers directly to buyers. The platform, according to Anabor, is expected to operate as a hybrid of a digital marketplace and physical aggregation hub, potentially becoming a first-of-its-kind initiative in Nigeria.

“We are creating a system where anyone, anywhere in the world, can access products from the state through a structured platform,” he said.

The state is also working on packaging and value-addition systems for agricultural products, including collaborations to establish packaging hubs for agribusinesses under a state-federal partnership arrangement.

On industrial development, Anabor revealed ongoing discussions around expanding power generation capacity, including a 100-megawatt energy initiative involving private sector partners. He said improved power supply is central to the state’s strategy for attracting manufacturing and industrial investors.

“The issuance of power licences and expansion of energy infrastructure will stimulate production, create jobs, and strengthen the entire value chain,” he stated. The Commissioner also highlighted the state’s natural gas reserves as a major comparative advantage, adding that efforts are underway to attract investors into the energy and industrial sectors.

Anabor disclosed that the state is currently finalising a comprehensive trade policy designed to deepen collaboration between government and the private sector while promoting export-oriented industrialisation. He further confirmed discussions with the Nigerian Commodities Exchange aimed at developing structured commodity hubs that will enhance aggregation, processing, and export of agricultural produce.

According to him, ongoing infrastructure development, particularly road construction to agricultural zones, is part of a broader economic strategy to ease the movement of goods, reduce post-harvest losses, and stimulate rural commerce.

He also linked the state’s infrastructure expansion to anticipated job creation across production, logistics, marketing, and export value chains.

“Once these systems are fully operational, employment opportunities will expand significantly across multiple sectors,” he said.

Looking ahead, Anabor said the government is consolidating reforms into a unified ease-of-doing-business framework that will define investor engagement, cooperative structuring, and SME financing processes. He added that cooperatives will be restructured to align with their original objectives, ensuring transparency and improved access to government support and grants.

Reaffirming the state’s investment drive, the Commissioner called on local and international investors to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

“We are building an enabling environment where business can thrive. Edo is open, competitive, and ready for investment,” he said.

He concluded that the success of the reforms will be measured by improved business climate, increased industrial activity, and job creation over the next few years, adding that his legacy will be defined by a more structured and investor-friendly economy.

News Credit: Government House Newsletter
20th April – 26th April 2026

21/04/2026

UK-Nigeria Trade Corridors:
Enhancing Bilateral Trade Flow, Connectivity & Investment Mobility

Counting down to the NBCC Breakfast Meeting - where conversations will shape a stronger, more efficient UK-Nigeria Trade Corridor.

Special Guest - Hon. Omoh Anabor,
Edo State Commissioner, Ministry of Business Trade & Investment

17/04/2026

Edo State Govt Seeks Deeper China Ties to Drive Industrial Growth, Investment

By Daniel-Nwosu Nohunwan Lucy

The Edo State Government has intensified efforts to attract investment, with the Commissioner for Business, Trade and Investment, Hon. Omoh Anabor, calling for stronger collaboration during visits to the Chinese Embassy and the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, aimed at unlocking the State’s vast agricultural, industrial, and mineral potentials.

Hon. Anabor explained that Edo State has formally reached out to key diplomatic and trade representatives to foster bilateral cooperations that will scale up existing investments. He highlighted Edo State’s strategic location, which connects the eastern, northern, and western regions of Nigeria, offering a conducive business environment supported by enabling policies, tax incentives, and streamlined processes.

The Commissioner reflected on his visits to major Chinese industrial hubs including Shanghai and Guangzhou, and expressed Edo State Government’s ambition to replicate similar technological and industrial advancements through partnerships. He identified agro-processing, solid minerals, power generation, and manufacturing as priority sectors. He asserted that the State is endowed with abundant organic agricultural resources, including cassava, palm produce, plantain, and pineapple, which can be processed for both local consumption and export.

Hon. Anabor disclosed that the Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo is spearheading extensive development across the State through road construction, infrastructural projects, power expansion, and the revival of moribund industries. Citing the recent 100-Megawatt Electricity License granted to the Chinese Construction, Engineering and Technical Company (CCETC), he claimed it is expected to boost industrial growth, urging other investors to explore opportunities across the energy value chain.

The Commissioner assured prospective investors of adequate security, access to land, and direct government support, including expedited approvals from the Governor, whose vision is embedded in the Shine Agenda, which focuses on Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources, and Education.

During a similar visit to the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chris O. Isokpunwu, received the Edo State Government delegation and commended their initiatives to promote medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSMEs) by empowering them through SMEDAN. He acknowledged the Edo State Government’s proactive efforts to strategically position the State for global exports and pledged support and collaboration from the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.

Responding, the Minister Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, Mr. Wang Yingqi, welcomed the initiative. He noted that China is Nigeria’s largest economic, trade, and investment partner and expressed optimism about expanding cooperation, not only at the Federal Government level, but also extending to states and local governments, to benefit the Nigerian people. He emphasized that such partnerships would generate jobs and boost infrastructure development.

The Embassy also pledged to engage its Consular General in Lagos to facilitate stronger engagement and mobilize both public and private investors.

The Commissioner was accompanied on the visits by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Business, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Felicia Edokpolor Esq.

Photo Caption 1
L-R: The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Business Trade and Investment, Edo State, Mrs. Felicia Edokpolor Esq.; the Minister Counselor, Chinese Embassy, Mr. Wang Yingqi; the Commissioner, Ministry of Business Trade and Investment Edo State, Hon. Omoh Anabor; Mr Zhong Yifan during the official visit of the Edo State Government representatives to the Chinese Embassy in Abuja

Photo Caption 2: The Commissioner, Ministry of Business Trade and Investment, Edo State, Hon. Omoh Anabor (2nd left); the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Abuja, Dr. Chris O. Isokpunwu (2nd right); the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Business Trade and Investment, Edo State, Mrs. Felicia Edokpolor Esq. (1st right); during the official visit of the Edo State Government representatives to the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in Abuja.

14/04/2026

Edo State Govt Supports Women-Led Enterprise to Boost Economic Dev

By Daniel-Nwosu Nohunwan Lucy & Naomi Daniels

The Edo State Ministry of Business, Trade and Investment (MBTI) has reaffirmed its commitment to forging strategic partnerships that empower women and promote sustainable economic growth in the State.

According to the Commissioner for Business, Trade and Investment, Hon. Omoh Anabor, the efforts are part of ongoing initiatives of the Edo State Government to strengthen local enterprise and foster inclusive development throughout the State.

The commitment was emphasized by the Commissioner during a courtesy visit by the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, led by its Edo State Chairperson, Barr. Anthonia Asagba. He highlighted that one of Sen. Monday Okpebholo’s key priorities is to drive industrial development and create a conducive business environment through the establishment of industrial markets, which aim to support local businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly women.

Hon. Anabor noted the Ministry’s dedication to collaborating with women-focused organizations to advance inclusive economic growth. He cited the prominent display of “Made in Edo” products, produced and packaged by women, at the recently concluded Enugu International Trade Fair, as a testament to such commitment.

The Permanent Secretary of MBTI, Mrs. Felicia Edokpolor Esq., reiterated that the Ministry will continue its support for women, especially those engaged in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). She outlined ongoing initiatives by the Ministry, designed to empower women entrepreneurs to include providing platforms to showcase their products at trade fairs and offering training on effective packaging and marketing to meet market standards.

The Edo State Chairperson of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria explained that the visit aimed to advocate for increased female representation in leadership and to promote initiatives that empower women to meet their personal, family, and societal needs. She emphasized that women’s active involvement in leadership and socio-economic activities consistently yields measurable and impactful results. The group solicited the Ministry’s support and collaboration to advance their objectives.

Expressing gratitude, Barr. Asagba appreciated the Commissioner and other principals of the Ministry for their warm reception and ongoing commitments to supporting women’s development initiatives.

The engagement was attended by the Head of Cooperative Affairs, Mrs. Imode Evelyn, among other officials.

Photo Caption:
The Commissioner, Ministry of Business Trade and Investment (MBTI), Hon. Omoh Anabor (Middle); the Permanent Secretary MBTI, Mrs. Felicia Edokpolor esq. (5th left); the Head Cooperative Department, Mrs. Imode Evelyn (4th left); the Edo State Chairperson, League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), Barr. Anthonia Asagba (5th right); the Secretary NILOWV, Amb. Obeahon Precious (3rd right) alongside Staff of the Ministry and other Executives of NILOWV during the courtesy visit to the Ministry in Benin City.

05/04/2026