Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has revealed that his administration is making progress in actualizing the proposed Abia Diaspora City, a project aimed at creating a modern, world-class residential and business hub for Abians in the diaspora.
Governor Otti stated this on Thursday, at a meeting with the President of the Diaspora Alliance, Rev Emmanuel Ihim who came in company of the Arch Bishop of the Methodist Church,Umuahia Diocese, Arch Bishop Chibuzor Opoko.
The Governor assured that the State Government has already identified three potential locations and is in the process of selecting the most suitable site.
He said that the Abia Diaspora City would feature State-of-the-art amenities to ensure the project meets high standard of living for both residents and investors.
“We are already working on the Diaspora City. Actually, we want it to be a place where you and I can live.
“We have identified locations, about three of them and are in the process of choosing one where all the amenities that you can think of are available.
“I am sure that in a few months we would come out to announce it but it has been in the works, Governor Otti stated.
Governor Otti assured that his administration is focused on improving infrastructure, Healthcare, Power Sector as well as Education among others.
The Governor who highlighted his administration’s investment in Education, revealed that 20% of the 2024 and 2025 Budgets were allocated to the sector in addition to the introduction of free and compulsory Education policy and the recruitment of teachers as a deliberate approach to rebuild the sector.
He aligned with the Diaspora Alliance’s call for focused leadership and reaffirmed his belief that leadership should be rooted in integrity and the fear of God.
The Governor assured that his administration is getting started and pledged that more transformative policies will be implemented to improve the lives of Abians.
Earlier the President of the Diaspora Alliance, Rev. Emmanuel Ihim, stated that he was in the state to seek collaboration with the State Government in alignment with the Governor Otti’s developmental agenda.
Rev Ihim explained that the Diaspora Alliance harnesses resources from Government Agencies, Corporations, and individuals to drive development and emphasized the need for Government to collaborate with the organization to harness resources that would be channelled in Women and Youth Development, Healthcare, Education sector among others, for the benefit of the people.
He highlighted the church’s biblical mandate to foster positive change and sustain good governance noting that God is interested in salvaging societies and enthroning visionary leaders.
Rev Ihim who commended Governor Otti for his dynamic and visionary leadership, described the Governor as a divine fulfillment of God’s vision for Abia State and called on Christians to rally behind him in fulfilling the divine mandate of transforming Abia State.
He noted that Governor Otti’s commitment to transform Abia is “rare in this part of the world”, and lauded the Governor’s humility, integrity, and dedication to the welfare of the people.
“This is the first time in the history of Abia State that we have a leader who truly understands the needs of the people.
“Abians in the diaspora are pleased with the Governor’s performance and are willing to support his administration to sustain its momentum.
Also speaking, a member of the Abia Diaspora Commission, Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, who joined the meeting virtually, congratulated Abia State for toping the last NECO examination and urged the Governor to sustain the tempo.
“I don’t know what the leadership did but I would say that as we move into this protocol of looking for new frameworks of how to drive the efficiency of educational system whatever we have done let it be sustained”, he said.
