Former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has unveiled a visionary blueprint to propel Abia State toward a new era of socioeconomic prosperity, urging Governor Alex Otti to embrace bold reforms.
Ezekwesili, in a thought-provoking virtual lecture, she delivered to mark the 2023 Abia Day celebration themed, ‘Abia: Hitting the reset button’, and the inauguration of Abia State Orientation Agency (ABSOA), advised Governor Otti to formulate sound policies for the state which should be complemented with conducive environment and infrastructural facilities to promote economic growth.
She noted that the governance approach of Governor Otti would determine if he would unleash Abia’s great potentials and anchor the state on the path of sustainable development.
Ezekwesili emphasized that Abia, despite having a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately 25 billion US dollars, should not find itself among states grappling with low GDP, infrastructural deficiencies, high unemployment rates, and various other challenges.
She urged the Governor to spearhead Abia transformation by establishing the necessary institutional frameworks, addressing inefficiencies in the public sector, formulating sound economic policies, fostering productivity, revamping tax collection and public procurement systems, in addition to embracing technology to enhance government operations.
The former Education Minister praised Governor Alex Otti’s leadership abilities, asserting that under his guidance, Abia could evolve into a modern state characterized by thriving trade, robust commerce, enhanced security, infrastructural development, ease of doing business, and economic revitalization.
Ezekwesili expressed optimism that with the right policies and a skilled workforce, Abia possesses the potential to become a global economic powerhouse, provided it undertakes the necessary reforms and invests strategically, leveraging its comparative advantages like China.
She further called on Governor Otti to collaborate with his counterparts in the South East region to advocate for the reenactment of the South East Development Act and stressed the importance of harmonizing and harnessing Abia’s vast potential within this new vision, working collectively towards a brighter future for the state and its residents.
The former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria,Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, echoed Ezekwesili’s advice, urging the Abia government to heed her recommendations.
In his address titled ‘To a New Path,’ Governor Alex Otti who used the occasion to officially launch the Abia State Orientation Agency(ABSOA), emphasized the need for reorientation in governance and socio-economic aspects to set Abia on the right course.
Otti pledged to transform Abia into a model of good governance and responsible citizenship, emphasizing that even the most visionary leader relies on the support of the people to achieve their goals.
