Okonjo-Iweala picks Aba for Africa’s first WTO Office — A game-changing leap toward global city status

Maureen Aguta

In a landmark move poised to reshape Africa’s trade landscape, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is reportedly finalizing plans to establish a WTO sub-office in Aba, Abia State — the first such office on the African continent and only the second in the world.

Sources familiar with early briefings say the initiative underscores the WTO’s growing focus on Africa’s manufacturing potential, with Okonjo-Iweala describing the choice of Aba as “a strategic investment in Africa’s industrial future.” She noted that the city, long celebrated for its ingenuity and booming small-scale manufacturing, “has shown remarkable resilience and innovation, and the world is beginning to notice.”

The decision marks a historic recognition of Aba’s role as one of West Africa’s most vibrant production clusters — famed for its leatherworks, fashion enterprises, fabrication workshops and a growing tech-driven creative economy.

Economic analysts say the move could elevate Aba from a regional commercial centre into a globally connected industrial hub, unlocking new pathways for trade facilitation, capacity building and foreign investment. A senior Abia State government official welcomed the development with enthusiasm, saying, “This will change everything for Aba. The city is stepping onto the world stage.”

If confirmed, the WTO sub-office is expected to accelerate infrastructure upgrades, strengthen global supply-chain integration and position Abia State as a pivotal player in Africa’s evolving manufacturing narrative — while marking a proud milestone for Nigeria on the international trade map.