Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said governments must prioritise policies that deliver tangible development rather than pursue economic growth figures that fail to improve citizens’ living standards.
The governor stated this on Monday, when he received the 2024 Nobel Laureate in Economics, Prof. James A. Robinson, and a delegation of distinguished academics from universities in the United States, led by former Minister of Education and Health, Prof. Ihechukwu Madubuike, during a courtesy visit at Nvosi am LGA.
Governor Otti who congratulated Prof Robinson on winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics, said it was a privilege to finally meet the renowned development economist, whose work he had long followed.
He described development economics as the most significant branch of the discipline because it addresses the fundamental issues affecting people’s welfare.
Governor Otti, a first-class graduate of Economics from the University of Port Harcourt, noted that the long-held assumption that economic growth automatically translates into development no longer reflects reality.
“You can have empty growth; that does not affect development.
“A clear example is when you have economic growth, GDP growth; maybe 3% or 5% GDP growth, that may look significant, but when you have population growth of 10%, then clearly that growth is actually a decline because you have more mouths to feed than the food that is available”, the governor said.
He explained that his administration deliberately evaluates policies based on their capacity to reduce poverty and improve productivity rather than merely increase economic indicators.
“In taking decisions, we look at those desiderata that would impact development, not necessarily growth. Everything is interconnected. You end up looking at a poverty rate of some percentage.
“But there are some fundamental things that lead to that poverty. One of them may just be unemployment; the other may be poor productivity, which is exacerbated by poor input.
“And, at the end of the day, you find out that you would end up in a vicious cycle. And until you break that circle, everything will keep reinforcing each other.
“For us here, we start from that point: what is it that we need to do to break the cycle of poverty? And it may just be outside the circle. It may be an externality”, he said
According to the governor, creating an enabling environment for businesses and investment alone is insufficient unless citizens possess the skills and capacity to take advantage of available opportunities.
“You see things that have been done to enable trade, enable commerce, enable productivity; nothing is happening.
“You may also inject funds or capital into the system; if there is no resource to take that, it’s a waste”, he added.
The governor also the State’s willingness to collaborate with Prof Robinson on research, policy development and knowledge exchange, subject to the economist’s availability.
Speaking earlier, Robinson, a 2024 Nobel Laureate in Economics and professor at the University of Chicago, said he was delighted to visit Abia and looked forward to discussions on Nigeria’s development challenges, Governor Otti’s reform approach and areas where academic collaboration could contribute to policy solutions.
Also speaking, Prof. Leander Heldring of Northwestern University said the prosperity of nations depends largely on the quality of their institutions and the choices made by their people.
He commended the developmental strides recorded in Abia State and expressed their admiration for the reforms being implemented by Governor Otti.
In his remarks, Imo State born Prof. Chima Korie of Marquette University said the developmental strides recorded in Abia had inspired confidence among Nigerians in the Diaspora.
“If every state in Nigeria was doing like Abia, then there would be no need for such books (referring to the recently reviewed book, Nigeria, a Crumbling State, authored by Prof. Madubuike).
“Many of us, including those living in the Diaspora, are really proud of you and what is happening in Abia State.
“We are really hoping that other states, including those around the eastern region, will learn from what is happening in Abia”, he said.
Leader of the delegation, Prof Ihechukwu Madubuike said the visit was intended to deepen Abia’s development model through research collaboration, policy advisory support, capacity building and stronger engagement with the global academic and policy community.
He described Abia under Governor Otti as a model of prudent economic management, saying the present administration’s emphasis on fiscal discipline, transparency, productivity and value for money aligns with the development principles championed by Robinson.
Also, the president of the Abia State Leadership Academy and former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, said Robinson’s scholarship had significantly influenced his academic career.
He added that the Abia State Leadership Academy, established through an Executive Order by Governor Otti, is committed to producing ethical, empathetic and institution-focused leaders equipped to drive transformational leadership in the state and beyond.
