Today, we officially declared open the 2026 ANPA Medical Mission at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
The mission, organized by the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) in collaboration with the Abia State Government, is a testament to our shared commitment to expanding access to free, quality healthcare and strengthening our health system through partnerships and capacity building.
At the heart of our development agenda is the welfare of our people. We believe that healthcare and economic prosperity are inseparable. Healthy citizens drive productivity, guide investment, and secure long term growth.
I commend ANPA for returning to Abia as a dependable partner in our healthcare transformation journey. The mission will not only provide immediate medical relief but also build the capacity of our local health workers through knowledge transfer and exposure to global best practices.
As part of our efforts, we have approved the recruitment of 851 healthcare professionals, with 629 already deployed across facilities. We are also working to institutionalize collaboration with ANPA, incorporating telemedicine and digital healthcare solutions to ensure sustainability.
Special thanks to the ANPA team, their leader Dr. Cliff Eke, stakeholders in the sector, and the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonna, for their dedication and partnership in driving this mission forward.
Abia is steadily positioning itself as an emerging destination for investment in health and other critical sectors. I am confident that the outreach will leave lasting stories of lives saved, joy restored, and renewed faith in humanity.
OMOLEYE SOWORE: BETWEEN ACTIVISM AND NUISANCE.
Ikechukwu Amaechi | The Niche | March 26, 2026
Omoyele Sowore is riding the wrong horse by taking on Otti. To start with, Abia people are happy with the performance of their Governor, who has achieved in less than three years, what the previous administrations, put together, could not achieve in 24 years. So, Otti does not need Sowore’s validation. Those who matter – Abians – are already doing that. The ranting of an aggrieved interloper will not make any difference…
Omoyele Sowore should watch it. Creating disruption for its own sake is not activism. It is nuisance. The line that divides both phenomena is rather thin. The earlier he pulls back from the brink of this self-destructive gambit, the better for him and those who still believe he can be redeemed.
Omoyele Sowore’s recent visit to Aba, the Southeast commercial nerve centre, is creating a buzz. The politician, who doubles as an activist and social crusader, was in Enyimba City to lead a protest demanding freedom for the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who hails from Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State.
Some discerning commentators suggest that there could be more to the protest and the decision to hold it in Aba than meets the eye. Could it have been a hatchet job targeted at Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti? If true, in whose interest? Could it have been a ploy to instigate crisis in Aba that will provoke scotched-earth reaction from the Federal Government? Wouldn’t the protest have been more potent in Abuja where decisions concerning Kanu are taken or even Sokoto where he is presently incarcerated?
Citizen Bolaji Akinyemi raised the same issues in an article titled, “Consistency and context: Sowore, Abia and the politics of process,” on March 23, 2026, when he asserted that: “The geography of protest is never neutral. It communicates intent, whether consciously designed or inadvertently projected. And in a politically charged environment — where opposition elements within Abia are actively seeking to unseat the current administration — the optics of such a protest cannot be divorced from its implications.”
I couldn’t agree more!
And Sowore showed his hand with his subsequent “Alex Otti is a failure,” outburst. In a video that has now gone viral, he said, “After visiting Abia State, I can confirm that Alex Otti is a failure because I don’t believe in half transformation.” That is rather too sweeping and prejudiced a statement to make. He predicated his assessment on his visit to a particular market in the Enyimba City.
“When you enter Ariaria Market which is the biggest economic hub there, the place looks like Jurassic Park. But when you get to the main road, of course, there is some transformation. But mine is total… I don’t believe in half transformation,” he ranted.
So, at what point did the Kanu protest become an assessment mission to ascertain the level of Otti’s performance?
This raises a fundamental issue that must not be glossed over. If truly the objective of Sowore’s visit to Abia was to mount pressure on the federal government to put an end to the needless and inglorious Kanu saga, then common sense should dictate, as I alluded to earlier, that pressure should be concentrated in Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of government, where decisions concerning Kanu’s fate are taken.
“To redirect that pressure toward Aba, in a manner that casts the State government in a negative light,” as Bolaji Akinyemi further noted, “risks suggesting that the protest may be serving layered purposes beyond its stated aim.”
This is an inescapable conclusion considering that Sowore has a relationship with Otti that is not necessarily perfunctory. But even more important is the fact that if, indeed, it is all about Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom, then in Otti, Sowore has a partner, not an adversary. Even before Kanu’s conviction, the Governor had met with President Bola Tinubu in Aso Rock to canvass for his freedom.
Unfortunately, for reasons best known to the powers that be in Abuja, every plea for a reprieve for Kanu from well-meaning Igbos has been treated with utmost disdain. But that has not deterred Otti. When eventually the Biafran agitator was convicted and sent to jail, the Governor was the first to visit him in prison in Sokoto. And ever since, he has not allowed the fact of the conviction to dampen his belief that a political solution will better serve the interest of Kanu, Alaigbo and, indeed, Nigeria. And not being someone who plays to the gallery, he is pushing for Kanu’s freedom out of conviction, not self-glorification.
Sowore can’t claim ignorance of Otti’s principled interventions aimed at resolving this impasse. Therefore, any protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu from prison which is staged in opposition to, or in disregard of, a Governor who is already engaging that very cause at the highest level of government is at best a mischief, or worse, a hatchet job.
And Sowore’s tantrums bear witness to his sinister motive. He is on a hatchet mission which unfortunately for him failed woefully, hence his frustration. He went to Abia State expecting a deal. He had expected that the Governor would invite him to plead that the protest be shelved, which would have given him the opportunity to grandstand. But he didn’t reckon with Otti’s sure-footedness.
When a leader is sure of his standing with his people, such braggadocio does not faze. So, he ignored the overzealous interloper, knowing full well the tectonic shift in orientation that is beginning to hold sway in Alaigbo. It is no longer the Enyimba Enyi (herd) mentality that hitherto held sway. Igbo youths are wiser and no longer prone to presenting their heads for the breaking of Nigeria’s asinine coconut of bigotry.
Sowore had also expected that security agents deployed to the protest venue would be highhanded, thereby provoking some kind of violent reaction from aggrieved youths. Had that happened, there would have been mayhem and that would have surely wrong-footed the Governor. But he didn’t reckon with Otti’s political sagacity and emotional intelligence in governance. His instruction to the security agents was unambiguous. “Your job is to protect the protesters not harass or intimidate them.” They had him loud and clear and delivered accordingly.
So, at the end, despite the huge presence of security personnel including soldiers, not even a canister of teargas was fired, not to talk of using batons to break limbs. The protest remained one of the most peaceful in recent Nigerian history.
Make no mistake: the choice of Aba as protest venue was not by happenstance. It was deliberate based on the perception of volatility of the city and hotheadedness of the indigenes. So, Sowore and his co-travellers on the boulevard of mischief anticipated a dangerous escalation. That did not happen. Instead, there was significant restraint that resulted in a peaceful protest. Rather than throwing stones, the protesters were taking selfies and praising the Governor not only for his developmental strides but also for significantly expanding the civic space and deepening the culture of tolerance.
There is no doubt that the people are aggrieved at the treatment the Nigerian State is meting out to Nnamdi Kanu, but they are not going to allow their grievance to becloud their sense of duty to Alaigbo by giving those who wish them harm an excuse to kill and maim and retard the huge and observable development the State is witnessing under Otti’s watch.
So, Sowore left Aba deflated. For a man who thrives in unnecessary controversy and vainglorious showboating, that was too bitter a pill to swallow and he blames Otti for that, hence the outburst.
But he is riding the wrong horse by taking on Otti. To start with, Abia people are happy with the performance of their Governor, who has achieved in less than three years, what the previous administrations, put together, could not achieve in 24 years.
They appreciate the fact that their Governor is proving by his actions in office that he appreciates what political scientists call the four “Ps of Governance” – Purpose, People, Process, and Performance. He has proved beyond doubt that he has both moral clarity and effective, honest execution in leadership, thus underscoring Narendra Modi, India Prime Minister’s quip that, “Good governance with good intentions is the hallmark of our government. Implementation with integrity is our core passion.”
Otti does not only have good intentions for the people as clearly manifested in the projects he is executing, but in implementing his policies and programmes, he has done so with a level of integrity that is uncommon in these shores. Through inclusivity, he has taken governance to the people. He has demystified governance without breaking a sweat and Abians are ululating, yearning for more.
So, he does not need Sowore’s validation. Those who matter – Abians – are already doing that. The ranting of an aggrieved interloper will not make any difference.
In any case, isn’t the fact that Sowore acknowledges “half transformation” an admission that Abia under Otti’s watch is no longer where it used to be? Shouldn’t that count for something? So, how does “failure” come into the narrative? Transformation is a process, not an event. If a man has been able to deliver “half transformation” in two years during a four-year tenure that has the potential of extending to eight years, how can that be failure?
Omoyele Sowore should watch it. Creating disruption for its own sake is not activism. It is nuisance. The line that divides both phenomena is rather thin. The earlier he pulls back from the brink of this self-destructive gambit, the better for him and those who still believe he can be redeemed.
Yesterday at Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), I was honoured to be received by a mammoth crowd of vibrant students as we commissioned landmark projects and unveiled bold initiatives that will shape the future of our great institution.
* Commissioned a refurbished 5 MVA Power Station (upgraded from 2.5 MVA) to ensure steady electricity supply for ABSU, Uturu, and adjoining communities.
* Delivered 3 retrofitted hostels (A, B & C) to improve student living conditions.
* Flagged off construction of:
- 5,000-bed Female Hostel
- 5,000-bed Male Hostel
- Faculty of Agriculture & Faculty of Law buildings
- 1.8km Internal Road Project
At the 30th–32nd Combined Convocation Ceremony, I also announced:
- Automatic lecturing jobs for all First-Class graduates as Graduate Assistants (after NYSC).
- Postgraduate scholarships up to PhD level for First-Class graduates in public universities nationwide.
- A ₦200 million Business Grant to support 100 graduates with innovative enterprise ideas in agriculture, ICT, clean energy, and more.
We also celebrated our best graduating student, Mrs. Oluchi Etumsi, with a personal token, and congratulated our distinguished honourees including His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Barr. Dr. Allen Onyema, and Dr. Stella Okoli.
Education remains the bedrock of our vision for Abia State. We are committed to building institutions that inspire excellence, innovation, and leadership.
Step by step, project by project, ABSU is being transformed into a hub of innovation, excellence, and leadership.
The Abia Commissioner for Agriculture, Cliff Agbaeze, says the Abia State Government is collaborating with CSS Farms, Nasarawa State, to establish an integrated, mechanised farm in the state.
Read more: https://t.co/cJNWSaf6CP
GOV. OTTI ASSURES COLLABORATION WITH UNDP ON JUBILEE FELLOWS PROGRAMME 2.0, SAYS PROGRAMME ALIGNS WITH THE VISION OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.
Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, has assured of the readiness of his administration to collaborate with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme 2.0, stressing that his government is not taking the issues of the development and empowerment of Abia youths for granted, hence, his willingness to collaborate with the federal government and UNDP to further empower the youths.
Governor Otti stated this on thursday, February 5th, in his Office, when he received a delegation of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination - Akubo Adegbe, Office of the Vice President and the UNDP team who paid him a working visit to seek the State’s formal participation in the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0, the support and preferred areas of interest to engage Abia youths.
Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 is a flagship Federal Government youth employment initiative, coordinated by the Office the Vice President and implemented with UNDP, with funding from the European Union. Established in 2022, NJFP provides 12‑month paid placements for young graduates across public, private, and civil society sectors.
Governor Otti described the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0 as a programme that aligns perfectly with his vision for the development of the youths in the State.
The number one citizens of the State said that his areas of preference for the collaboration and investment are, the digital space, creative economy, energy, and leadership, informing the delegation that his government has empowered many youths with digital skills through the TechRise programme, which has trained and graduated over 1,359 Abia Youths and the Abia leadership Academy too which has trained and graduated about 1000 Abia youths..
"We are not taking the issue of the Youths lightly. That is why I said maybe you had a peep into what we were doing. So, this aligns strategically with our own thinking.
"The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme 2.0 sounds to me like a programme that was adopted from here, because even before you came, we already had started doing something.
"There's a programme we call the Techrise programme, where we train our young people. The first set that we graduated were about 510.
"And then the second set, Techrise 2.0, we graduated 849. It was actually supposed to be 850, but toward the end of the programme, we lost one of the students. And it's all about digital economy.
"And, if you ask me what is the preferred area, I would say digital economy first. And then the creative economy, energy, and then a few other areas that our people are interested in.
The Governor equally noted that he introduced Leadership Academy for young people and the programme has ran 2 streams and graduated about a thousand young people, informing the delegation that another set would soon commence for the year.
Governor Otti, who assured that he would be glad to work with the team, directed the Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer of the Government, Mr Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, to work with the team. He said that he believes that after graduating from tertiary institution, the graduand should get integrated into the wider society and become useful.
"I've always also held the view that after the gown, you need to integrate it with the town. You know, the town and gown.
"Go and learn something in school. So, you come out, and then you can now decide where you want. There should be that integration between the town and the gown," Gov. Otti emphasised.
Earlier, the Team Lead of the UNDP, Innocent Ejolu, said that they came to discuss how Abia can scale and sustain youth employment strategically, transparently, and at speed.
He disclosed that the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme is a flagship initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, funded by the European Union, implemented by UNDP, with political and strategic leadership from the Office of the Vice President.
He said that the programme is a "new phase designed to deploy 20,000 fellows annually nationwide with deeper skills, smarter matching, and stronger retention.
"We've placed over 14,000 young Nigerians across all the 36 states and the federal capital territory.
"With Abia's co-investment, we can scale from hundreds to nearly thousands of fellows, build a pipeline of future civil servants and entrepreneurs, and unlock private capital for human development," Mr Ejolu stated.
Contributing, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Coordination and Delivery, Office of the Vice President, Mr Akubo Adegbe, while commending the leadership that Governor Otti has provided in the power sector and other sectors of the economy, noted that many national programmes have come and fizzled out in the past, hence, the Vice President has insisted that the programme should be domesticated to align with the visions of the State.
"The only way to make sure it does not follow the path of programmes that have come and gone is to ensure that the implementation of the programme is domesticated.
"We redesigned this 2.0 to better reflect the needs of the people, which is why we are having this conversation, to ensure that the redesigned 2.0 is sustainable," Adegbe stated.
Mr Adegbe, who disclosed that the programme is designed to deploy 20,000 fellows at the minimum across the country every year, made three key requests, including; the Governor's political support for the programme, his contribution to the basket fund and choice of sectors the Governor thinks would work better for the people of the State.
The Governor was joined by the Honourable Commissioners for trade and Commerce, sports and youth development and other senior appointees of the Government during the meeting.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
February 5th, 2026.
CIBN COMMENDS GOV. OTTI FOR NOTABLE ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN ABIA, DESCRIBED HIM AS A GOODWILL AMBASSADOR.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has commended Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, for notable economic progress made so far in the State under his leadership.
The President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Pius Olarenwaju made this known on thursday, February 5th, when he led members of the institute to pay a visit to the Governor in his office.
He noted that the State has recorded notable economic progress, including a 10 per cent increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), an eight per cent reduction in poverty, attraction of investments and the creation of over 10,000 jobs.
"You have achieved, within this short time, notable economic progress, including a 10% GDP increase, 8% poverty reduction in this part of the country, an attraction of significant investment and creation of over 10,000 jobs.
"We have heard about it in the newspaper, but it is more glorious for us to see it and also go back to tell more people. So, we appreciate you, Sir," Prof. Olarenwaju stated.
Prof. Olarenwaju also lauded improvements in the social sector, including the strengthened healthcare delivery, reduced mortality rates, the introduction of health insurance and enhanced education infrastructure, with free education policies.
While acknowledging the improvements in road infrastructure and other ongoing projects, which he described as evidence of purposeful governance. He appreciated the State’s Operation Crush initiative, which has improved security in the State and boosted youth confidence and economic activities.
The CIBN Chairman saluted Governor Otti’s contributions to the banking and finance profession and informed the Governor of plans by the institute to organise an event later in the year, where it would honour outstanding former bank chief executives for their impact on the banking industry.
President and Chairman of Council of CIBN described Governor Otti as a goodwill ambassador of the Institute, saying that his administration’s transformative achievements have become a source of pride to them.
He maintained that Governor Otti is representing them well as one who made a mark in the banking industry and doing well in government too.
Prof. Olarenwaju, called for deeper collaboration between CIBN and Abia State Government in certain areas, including financial literacy and financial inclusion, completion of the CIBN State office and infrastructural development among others.
He said that the CIBN is involved in a national programme aimed at training 10 million women and youths on financial inclusion, describing the financial literacy as fundamental to economic empowerment of the people.
"We want the involvement of the State in this programme. I did mention when I talked to the press that there is a conditioned precedent to financial inclusion, and that is financial literacy,
"We are intentional about this and we will go ahead to do this," Prof. Olarenwaju stated.
Receiving his guests, Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, reaffirmed his commitment to sustainable development and stronger collaboration with the CIBN.
Gov. Otti said that he is keen on deepening partnership with the institute, adding that the relationship is already well established and should be taken as a given.
The State Chief Executive mentioned some key achievements of his administration, including job creation, economic growth, poverty reduction, introduction of free and compulsory education, and improved healthcare delivery among others.
He particularly said that the free education, resulted in over a 100 per cent increase in school enrolment, adding that he equally recruited 5,394 teachers while the process of employing an additional 4,000 is ongoing.
Governor Otti, who commended the CIBN efforts in curriculum reform, expressed interest in adopting its updated curriculum across State-owned tertiary institutions and appreciated its proposals for regional conferences, financial literacy programmes and broader areas of collaboration.
"The institute's programme on financial inclusion and financial literacy for members of the public is very important.
"You find that even for those of us who claim that we have some knowledge, we still find that in terms of investment, we make mistakes and those mistakes are not made deliberately, because we don't know. So, I am very happy that you are doing that," Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti was joined by the Commissioner for Finance Hon. Uwaoma, Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Cliff Agbaeze, the Accountant-General of the State, Dr. Mrs. Njum Uma-Onyemenam, FCA, among other senior appointees of the Government.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
February 5th, 2026.
Yesterday, thursday, 5th February, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, received a delegation of the promoters and partners of the proposed Aba Commercial Smart City Project in his Office.
Governor Otti assured the delegation of his readiness to flag-off the project once all the requirements are met, including seeing the "colour of the money," stressing that work will start first before the flag-off will take place, as that has been a pattern of his administration to see contractors mobilize to site first, for weeks or months.
He warned that he would not want to see a situation where after flagging-off the project, work will stop after some days or weeks. He said that although he wants the project to start immediately, he was willing to give them more time to get fully ready for the project.
The State Chief Executive disclosed that he will soon be flagging-off the construction of Enyimba Hotel, the first ever Five Star Hotel to be built in the city of Aba, being developed in partnership with Radisson Blu, one of the best hotel and hospitality brands in the world.
The Governor also disclosed that Radisson Blu had already commenced work on the site of the decades-long abandoned Enyimba Hotel Project at Ogbor Hill, Aba, initiated by Late Dr. Sam Mbakwe, former Governor of old Imo State.
The Governor was joined by the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bar. Ikechukwu Uwana (SAN), Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Dr. Mrs. Salome Obiukwu, the Director-General and CEO, Public-Private-Partnership and Investment Promotion, Mr. Chinedum Chijioke among other senior Government appointees.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
February 6th, 2026.
A great man claimed a project is over 1 trillion and that project is 47.7km. In the end,he then claimed that the cost of a kilometer is which is 1 trillion divided by 47.7km is 7 billion
How did he calculate!
Pls throw more light! I want to know better! I want to learn! Teach me!
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has approved the appointment of Dr. Friday Kanu Ohuche as Chief Economic Adviser of the State Government.
In the same vein, the Governor has approved the constitution of the Abia State Economic Management Team, with the following members:
1. Executive Governor of Abia State (Chairman)
2. Commissioner for Finance
3. Commissioner for Budget & Planning
4. Commissioner for Trade and Commerce
5. Commissioner for Industries & SMEs
6. Chairman, Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Services
7. DG/CEO, Office of Public-Private Partnership & Investment Promotion
8. Chief Economic Adviser
9. Special Adviser, Internally Generated Revenue
10. Special Adviser, Budget and Planning
11. State Accountant-General
12. DG, Ministry of Finance Incorporated
13. Principal Secretary & Chief Strategy Officer
14. Technical Assistant to the Governor.
Prof. Kenneth Kalu, FCA
Secretary to the State Government
July 27, 2025
I want to specially and proudly use this moment to extend our special recognition to outstanding daughters of Abia who made us proud at the just-concluded #WAFCON2025 in Morocco. In particular, Esther Okoronkwo, whose remarkable performance earned her the well-deserved Woman of the Match award in our thrilling comeback victory over the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco.
She converted the crucial opening goal from the spot, and with two sublime assists, powered our team to a triumphant win that crowned Nigeria 🇳🇬 African Champions 🥇🏆 once again! Her performance spoke volumes, not just in stats, but in spirit, courage, and leadership on the pitch.
A heartfelt mention also to Christy Ucheibe, another proud daughter of Abia, whose contributions throughout the tournament were vital and supportive.
To Esther, Christy, and the entire Super Falcons squad: thank you for igniting hope, pride, and joy across our nation.
#EstherOkoronkwo #ChristyUcheibe #AbiaPride #WAFCON2025 #Champions #PrideOfAfrica