Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to nurturing future leaders who will uphold and promote the ideals of good governance in Nigeria and beyond.
Governor Otti restated this commitment at the graduation and send-off ceremony of the pioneer cohort of the Abia Leadership Academy, who successfully completed a seven-day intensive leadership training organised for Abians between the ages of 16 and 20 years at Government College, Umuahia.
Delivering his address titled “A New Pedestal”, the Governor emphasised his administration’s deliberate effort in developing the leadership capacity of young people in the state.
“We are committed to getting it right with the younger generation, otherwise our wider development efforts will be in jeopardy.
“We are particular about developing the leadership attitude of our young ones, guiding them to think broadly and deeply to understand the values of empathy and good neighbourliness.
“The Abia Leadership Academy has been set up to begin the process of returning us to the ideas and values that made us distinct as a people in the wider human community.
“We have actively taken a conscious step to redirect the psyche and mental energy of our young people to the values and standards that once defined our communities”, Governor Otti stated.
The Governor expressed satisfaction with the participants’ output, comportment, enthusiasm and congratulated them on their achievements, urging them to apply the skills acquired.
He disclosed that in the coming weeks, the project planning committee would design a programme through which 1,000 participants would be deployed to secondary and tertiary institutions to share their knowledge with other young people.
Governor Otti who noted that his administration’s long-term target is to train thousands of youths across the state, also announced plans to review the State’s curriculum to align classroom learning with contemporary realities.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission and member of the Abia Leadership Academy organising committee, Pastor Eno Jerry-Eze, described the initiative as historic.
“This moment is indeed epochal because we are not just producing graduates, we are raising a critical mass of young leaders who believe that change is possible and who are equipped to drive it.
“We envision a future where the top 10% of professionals in any industry across the globe will proudly trace their roots to the Abia Leadership Academy.
“Knowledge on its own is the bedrock of development. Yet, knowledge must be married with sound character, loyalty to state, ethics, and integrity.
“Today, through this academy, we present a hub of young people who, beyond conventional education, have been equipped with future-proof skills, a rich, solution-driven curriculum that empowers them to become leaders of thought, policy, and innovation”, Pastor Jerry-Eze stated.
The Lead Consultant and Programme Director, Mr Johnson Abali, expressed gratitude to the Governor for his vision in investing in youth leadership and explained that participants had been divided into five ports and groups to maximise learning outcomes.
“They have been immersed in leadership lessons, exposed to critical thinking frameworks among other leadership skills”, Mr Abali said.
Sharing their personal transformational stories, participants including Oluomachi Otum, Clinton Salvation, Divine Okezie, thanked Governor Otti for the opportunity, describing the programme as a life-changing experience.
They noted that the lessons learnt had sharpened their minds, boosted their confidence, and positioned them to contribute meaningfully to the future of Abia and Nigeria.and pledged not to disappoint the Governor and the people of the state.
