The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Richard Mills, has commended the leadership of Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, for what he described as the “real and positive change” being witnessed in the state under his administration.
Ambassador Mills gave the commendation when he led a delegation of senior American diplomats, including Consul General Ruth Swart, on a courtesy visit to Governor Otti at his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The US Ambassador lauded the state’s transformation under the Governor’s leadership and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to deepening its partnership with Abia.
“I think what we’ve seen over the past two days that we’ve been in the state confirms what our assessment has been, which is that your leadership in Abia has brought real change here, positive change.
“Your focus on infrastructure, on security challenges, has really transformed the state, and we believe that it is a powerful example of how to improve governance across the South East,” Ambassador Mills said.
He said Governor Otti’s focus on economic growth, youth empowerment, and transparent governance aligns with the values and policies necessary to attract U.S. investment.
“Your administration’s commitment to fostering economic growth, empowering youth, and creating a more transparent and more accountable government really aligns very closely with our goals and what U.S. business needs to see if it’s going to invest,” he said.
According to him, the United States sees “tremendous opportunities” in Abia and across the Southeast region and is keen to build a more robust partnership to unlock the full potential of Abia and the Southeast region.
“We really want to deepen the partnership between the United States and Abia. So I look forward to discussing with you and your team how we can continue to support your administration’s priorities and help really unlock the full potential of Abia and the Southeast region,” Ambassador Mills said.
In his response, Governor Otti, while welcoming the delegation, expressed delight over the two-day working visit, which he described as a mark of endorsement of his administration’s efforts.
“Your visit to Abia is a mark of endorsement as far as we are concerned here, and we are very glad for the positive comments and for some of the things you said, which are also in alignment with what this government stands for.
“We are very glad that you are spending a whole two days in Abia. I’m glad with the report that is filtering in about the positive meetings you have had with the business community, with the Chamber of Commerce, and a few other places here,” he said.
Governor Otti reiterated his administration’s preference for strategic partnerships over donor dependency, adding that the state does not believe in “grants and aid” but in partnerships.
“In terms of partnership, like I was telling you, we don’t believe in grants and aid. We believe that there’s a lot of value that we can add, working together,” he said.
Governor Otti described Abia as “the SME capital of Nigeria” and commended the ingenuity of local entrepreneurs, particularly those in Ariaria International Market, Aba.
He also used the opportunity to highlight his administration’s reforms in key areas such as healthcare, education, digital technology, and Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs).
