The Anambra State Government has revealed how it was drawn into preparations for a South-East Made-in-Nigeria Fair after officials were allegedly misled into believing they were dealing with a legitimate government agency.
The proposed fair, scheduled for December 2 to 5, 2026, was being organised in collaboration with a purported Made-in-Nigeria Agency that has since been exposed as fake and non-existent.
The Secretary to the Anambra State Government (SSG), Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, disclosed this while clarifying her alleged connection with the organisation after her photograph circulated on social media identifying her as the state’s focal person.
Nnake explained that the state’s contact with the purported agency began in January 2026, when Governor Chukwuma Soludo received a letter requesting states to nominate representatives to serve as focal persons.
Following the request, Soludo reportedly nominated Nnake in February to represent Anambra State.
She said focal persons from the 36 states were subsequently added to a WhatsApp group, where they exchanged information and discussed activities attributed to the purported agency.
According to the SSG, the Anambra Government later received another communication from the same office asking the state to host the South-East Made-in-Nigeria Fair.
The request was approved by the state government, leading to the commencement of preparations for the event.
Nnake said an inaugural planning meeting was also held about two weeks ago, with the purported National Coordinator of the agency attending the meeting.
She explained that the state committee had already begun working towards the December event before the organisation was exposed as fake.
The SSG stressed that her involvement was strictly based on official communications received by the state government and the responsibilities assigned to her as the nominated focal person.
“Beyond these official interactions and engagements, I have no knowledge of, involvement in, or connection with any other activities, claims, or developments attributed to the said office,” she said.
Nnake maintained that any other activities or claims associated with the purported agency outside the official engagements she outlined were unknown to her.
The revelation has raised concerns over how the organisation allegedly managed to gain access to government officials in several states and organise official engagements before its purported identity and existence came under scrutiny.
