ABA DESERVES GLOBAL STAGE, STRATEGIC SUPPORT TO THRIVE – Prince Paul Ikonne
…Umuaba Connect applaud APC Abia South Senatorial candidate vision at 10th anniversary, hailing him as a true homegrown entrepreneur capable of driving economic transformation.
Enyinnaya Solomon
ABA, NIGERIA
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Abia South Senatorial District election, Prince Paul Ikonne, has called for deliberate institutional backing and strategic support to propel the commercial city of Aba onto the global economic stage.
Speaking at the 10th Anniversary celebration of Umuaba Connect held on Friday 2nd October, 2026 at the Oris Signature Hotels, Aba, Prince Ikonne commended the group’s age-long commitment to upholding the vision of the founding fathers of the city of Aba while emphasizing that the city’s immense creative and entrepreneurial energy must be translated into sustainable economic value.
During the event, Umuaba Connect strongly hailed Prince Ikonne’s senatorial ambition for the upcoming election.
The group described him as a “genuine Aba man” and a proven entrepreneur whose visible footprints in local business development serve as a reliable guarantee of his capacity to deliver effective representation in the red chamber.
Addressing the gathering, Prince Ikonne stated that the city already possesses the core ingredients for global success, praising the innate capabilities of the people.
“Aba has never lacked talent, ingenuity or resilience. From manufacturing and fashion to trade, technology and entrepreneurship, our people continue to demonstrate what is possible when skill meets determination,” Ikonne said.
The senatorial hopeful noted that while the city’s industrious reputation is widely acknowledged, superficial praise is no longer enough to sustain its growth or empower its massive business ecosystem.
“What Aba needs now is more than recognition. It needs deliberate attention from the federal government, strategic support and stronger institutional backing to help its businesses compete and succeed on a bigger stage,” he maintained.
Outlining his vision as the senatorial hopeful for the district and what he considers a collective duty for leadership in the region, Ikonne emphasized a three-pronged responsibility focused on advocacy, business environment optimization, and youth empowerment.
“My responsibility is clear: To champion the recognition Aba deserves at the national stage, to help create an environment where businesses can thrive through the sponsorship and support of the right legislations and policies, to ensure that the creativity and hard work of our people translate into real economic value, sustainable businesses and meaningful opportunities for the next generation, and most importantly attract the needed federal government support” Ikonne declared.
Concluding his remarks, the APC candidate congratulated Umuaba Connect on reaching its milestone anniversary and charged the members to remain steadfast in their vision for the city’s transformation.
“Congratulations to Umuaba Connect on 10 years of impact and community building. The fire is already burning. Our duty is to keep it burning brighter,” Ikonne added.
Some dignities that graced the occasion included Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe the serving senator, Abia South Senatorial District and Prince Adimchinobi Nwaigwe the Zenith Labour Party candidate for the Aba North and South Federal Constituency.
3/10/2026
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