The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), in collaboration with the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), a World Bank-assisted program, has convened a landmark town hall meeting in Awka, Anambra State.
The event which featured top government officials, stakeholders, and business gurus was held at the international conference centre on, 8th July, 2025 where they brainstormed on the implementation of business-enabling reforms across Nigerian states, with a focus on Anambra State’s economic development.
In her welcome address, the Anambra State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and PEBEC reform Champion in the state, Mrs Amaka Nnake said Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s visionary initiatives in road construction and digitisation of land acquisition are a pivotal effort to enhance the business environment.
She stated that the State government is committed to improving the ease of doing business in the state as that is what the government of Governor Soludo is doing before now while the state controls about twenty-six per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), assuring that the business climate in the state has improved exponentially.
Addressing the audience on unlocking Economic Potential, the PEBEC Team Leader, Mr.Ohiemi Gabriel, and his counterpart PEBEC Reform Leader, Mrs Oluwalofunmi Odunlami, said the loan initiative funded by the World Bank was designed to eliminate administrative and bureaucratic hurdles that impede the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
He stated that the efforts are geared towards fostering a conducive business environment, which the initiative will prioritise and streamline bureaucratic processes, enhance transparency, and implement reforms that catalyse business growth and development.
In her speech through audio-visual transistor video clips, the Director General of PEBEC, Prince Zahra Mustapha Audu, said that they are committed to creating an enabling environment that promotes business competitiveness and attractiveness in the country.
“The State Action Business Environment Reforms (SABER) programme is a critical component of our efforts to enhance business climate and drive economic growth in the country in line with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s initiative on ease of doing business and making Nigeria a business-friendly climate for all,” he said.
In his speech, Anambra State Commissioner for Industry Christian Udechukwu underscored the state’s productive partnership with the federal government in the realm of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the Bank of Industry, highlighting the provision of small-scale grants to SMEs in the state.
Mr Udechukwu added that the ease of doing business has been undergoing reforms so far in the state as these are in line with the project implementation guidelines of the PEBEC.
Earlier in his remark, the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim while commending PEBEC for their efforts, assured that the state’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment and promoting economic growth and development is paramount.
He stated that Anambra state ranked 7th position in the recent grading by the PEBEC and first in the South-East geopolitical zone and disclosed that the state will work hard to assist business ventures strive better in an environment-friendly manner for the ease of doing business and also boost production.
Adding, the Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka announced that the Anambra State Executive Council had collectively approved the establishment of Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission and massively invested in solar energy to enhance the ease of doing business in the state as well as reduce air pollution to the barest minimum.
Meanwhile, highpoint of the event were panel of discussants on climate business environment in Anambra State, while those present include All Farmers Association of Nigeria, (AFAN), Anambra State Branch, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, Anambra Chapter, NATO, representatives from the Ministry of Justice,
media among others.
