The State Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, made the donation during the official fund-raising ceremony of their 250 million naira (OMMTA) main building project at the market.

The Governor described the traders as invaluable partners in the socio-economic development of the state and therefore pledged his government's determination to continue to provide a very conducive atmosphere for the private sector to thrive.

Governor Nnamani noted with satisfaction the cooperation and undiluted support his government had received from the association in the past seven and half years and appealed to them to continue without shaking, even with the coming of a new administration.

He commended the management of the Traders Association under the leadership of Chief Ossy Peters Okoye for maintaining peace and harmony in the market over the years and urged the management to do more to ensure that they carry everybody along in the scheme of things.

He advised that the new administrative building should be redesigned to accommodate a library, conference center, chapel, club hall, among others, to make it look modern.

In his address, the President Ogbete Main Market Traders Association, Chief Ossy Peters Okoye, commended the State Governor for extending democracy dividends to the association since his assumption of office.

Some of these Chief Okoye said include donation of one Peugeot 504 Station Wagon, Fire Fighting Truck, a 300 KVA Transformer as well as sponsoring of their members to the Christian Pilgrimage to Israel.

He said that the decision to embark on the "Ebeano White House" project was motivated after visiting some notable markets in the country which included the Alaba International Market, Onitsha Main Market, Jos Central Market, among others.

He also stated that the Ogbete Market has been judged by DFID as one of the cleanest in the country and promised that this status would be maintained by provision of a more befitting office complex, hence the fund raising for the complex.

Chief Okoye said that the worthwhile project was being funded by his executives after taking into consideration the plight of less well-off traders and he decided not to bother them financially.

He stated that his regime has spent millions of naira to provide electricity in the market, and also trained road traffic officers to help in controlling traffic in the market and its surroundings

Other remarkable achievements by the regime of Ossy Peters Okoye included refuse evacuation at the market, traffic control by trained OMMTA Traffic Wardens and provision of security in liaison with the Police at the market.