Otti Charges 1,086 Young Abians to Embrace Excellence, Innovation, Hard Work

Otti Charges 1,086 Young Abians to Embrace Excellence, Innovation, Hard Work

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has charged 1,086 young graduates of the 2026 Abia State Leadership Academy Youth Leadership Boot Camp to embrace excellence, innovation, hard work and selfless service in their communities.

Otti gave the charge on Saturday at the graduation ceremony of the four-week leadership programme held at the International Conference Centre, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia.

The boot camp was organised by the Abia State Leadership Academy in collaboration with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.

Speaking on the theme, “The Leadership Vocation,” the governor congratulated the graduates and urged them to see their graduation as the beginning of greater responsibility rather than the end of their leadership journey.

He said the participants were no longer expected to remain passive citizens, but should become active drivers of the development agenda of the state.
“You are not going home as regular people anymore. You now belong to a special community of young minds with a responsibility to act with distinction and carry the light of excellence into your communities, schools, and wherever the future takes you,” Otti said.

The governor urged the graduates to establish mentoring clusters, share the knowledge acquired during the programme and mobilise other young people to become active participants in building what he described as the “New Abia.”

He said the development of the state was a transgenerational responsibility that required patience, resilience, teamwork, innovation and commitment.

Otti also challenged the young leaders to translate the ideas developed during their capstone presentations into practical solutions, assuring them of the state government’s support where necessary.
“We are far more interested in seeing them come to fruition,” he said, describing the graduates as “bearers of solutions, drivers of innovation, and agents of transformation.”

The governor further directed the Leadership Academy to maintain a directory of participants and track their progress, assuring the graduates that the government would continue to support and monitor their development.

He commended the President of the Academy, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, and his team, as well as the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University, led by its Director, Dr. Nneka Okekaru, for their contributions to the success of the programme.

Otti also appreciated the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, the management of Government College Umuahia and the Nigerian Naval College of Accounts and Finance for their partnership and support.

He disclosed that about 10 per cent of the participants were young people of Abia origin residing in different parts of the country, describing the development as evidence of the administration’s inclusive policy of recognising anyone living in Abia as an Abian.

The governor specifically mentioned one of the outstanding participants, Ms. Rosely Farida Abdusalam, who resides in Aba with her parents, saying her achievement demonstrated the effectiveness of the policy.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Dr. Eno Jerry Eze, said the 1,086 graduates were selected from more than 7,000 applicants.
She said the theme of the boot camp, “Raising Transformational Leaders, Innovators and Change-Makers,” reflected the state government’s commitment to investing in young people as a critical component of its development agenda.
Eze said the Otti administration was investing not only in infrastructure such as roads, schools, transportation, agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises and hospitals, but also in the human capital needed to sustain the state’s development.

She explained that the training exposed participants to real-life situations, critical thinking, problem-solving techniques and diverse perspectives, enabling them to develop practical solutions to challenges in their communities.

She commended Governor Otti for his commitment to youth development and the Leadership Academy for delivering what she described as a world-class programme.

Also speaking, the President of the Abia State Leadership Academy, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, commended Governor Otti for establishing the academy as a deliberate investment in the future of the state.

Kalu said the governor had chosen to invest not only in physical infrastructure but also in the minds, character and civic consciousness of young Abians.
According to him, while roads, buildings and hospitals were important, a generation shaped by integrity, compassion and purposeful leadership would have a more enduring impact on the state.

He urged the graduates to return to their schools, families and communities and apply the values and knowledge acquired during the programme.

“Go back to your communities and lead. Go back to your schools and solve. Go back to your families and model the values you have learned during your time at the Academy,” he charged.

Kalu also urged them to remain steadfast when confronted with pressure or situations capable of compromising their integrity.

The ceremony featured goodwill messages from the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D.; the President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe, and other dignitaries.