By Foster Obi

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the judiciary as an independent pillar of democracy, describing it as society’s ultimate defence against tyranny and abuse of power.

Speaking at the commissioning of the newly constructed Court Building in Umuene, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, Otti said the judiciary remained “the bulwark against tyranny” and a central institution in defending the rights of citizens in an increasingly complex and technology-driven world.

“Without an effective judicial system, society becomes a jungle where the strong feed on the weak and might confers right,” the Governor declared. “It is therefore to the judiciary and its officers that we owe our freedom to enjoy the inalienable rights that the benevolent Creator has graciously endowed mankind with.”

The Governor recalled that the project was flagged off on October 3, 2024, with a promise to deliver within 12 months—a promise now fulfilled. He said the construction of modern, fully equipped court buildings across all 17 local government areas underscores his administration’s conviction that there can be no meaningful development without equitable access to justice.

Otti explained that his government’s investment in judicial infrastructure was part of a holistic approach to governance that links justice delivery to social order, investor confidence, and community security.

“Progress for us is beyond physical infrastructure,” he said. “An effective judiciary is as important to development as quality roads, power supply, and other basic amenities.”

The Governor commended the Chief Judge of Abia State, Honourable Justice Lilian Abai, for what he called her “focused leadership” and for maintaining the integrity and objectivity of the judicial arm in advancing the boundaries of justice in the State.

He urged judicial officers to remain steadfast and fearless in dispensing justice, especially in a world where technology and social influence have made exploitation and manipulation more sophisticated.

“When victims run to your new judicial altars in tears, do not fail them,” Otti charged. “When you do, the villain is emboldened, innocence is lost, and the seeds of treachery spread.”

Otti also announced that other completed court buildings in the 16 remaining local government areas would be inaugurated over the coming weeks, each equipped with independent power systems, water supply, standard IT tools, and maintenance facilities.

He disclosed plans to begin the construction of two multi-functional, ultra-modern judicial complexes in Aba and Umuahia, each housing 15 courtrooms, a 1,000-seat multipurpose hall, and conference spaces.

“Never again will our judicial officers operate from structures that are below their standing and stature as oracles of truth and conscience,” he said.

The Governor further commended the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, for developing a framework that fosters a strong, respectful relationship between the executive and judicial arms of government.

Otti assured continued executive support for ongoing judicial reforms, emphasizing that institutional strengthening was key to building a fair, prosperous, and peaceful Abia.

“The goal is to build a State that offers equal opportunity to every individual to live out the full expression of their abilities,” he said. “We must shake off mediocrity and refuse to punch below our weight, for we are better than that.”

The Governor concluded by reaffirming his belief that an empowered and incorruptible judiciary would remain the cornerstone of the “New Abia” his administration envisions—a society founded on justice, fairness, and respect for human dignity.

Picture: The Governor in a group photo with the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN and, the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai.

By Foster Obi

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has declared that the state is determined to take its place among global leaders in the technology-driven economy, as he flagged off the Abia State Duct Infrastructure Development Project in Aba on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event held at Aba Town Hall, Otti said the initiative marks a major step in building the backbone for Abia’s digital transformation — an interconnected underground duct system designed to power reliable broadband access, enhance enterprise innovation, and expand digital opportunities for businesses and residents across the state.

“We no longer want to play at the lower rungs of the global technology ecosystem,” the governor said. We want to function at the apex and compete with the best minds anywhere in the world. The Abia of today is determined to push its people into the league of global entrepreneurs mining the boundless power of human intellect to drive prosperity.”

Otti noted that the duct infrastructure would form the base for Abia’s smart city and digital economy vision, describing it as a bold attempt to transform every development frontline in the state.”

The project, to be executed in partnership with the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), will provide an underground network supporting high-speed internet connectivity, digital services, and technology-driven governance systems across sectors.

“Technology has no sectoral limitations,” Otti said. “The farmer in the village, the shoemaker in Aba, the fashion designer exporting to Europe — all can benefit equally. This infrastructure will support everything from education and health to business, security, and public service.”

The governor emphasized that Abia’s development strategy under his leadership is built on diversification, innovation, and knowledge-based growth. He said the state’s recent strides — from improved fiscal stability and urban sanitation to enhanced security and record capital investments — demonstrate that his administration’s model is delivering measurable progress.

Otti also revealed that the duct project would pave the way for the expansion of broadband access to homes, schools, and offices across the 17 local government areas within the next 18 months, assuring that “no community will be left behind.”

“This project will attract global tech players to Abia,” he noted. “It will lead to new jobs, enterprise partnerships, and a multiplication of entrepreneurial opportunities.”

The governor expressed confidence in WIOCC’s capacity to deliver, citing the company’s track record in managing over 75,000 kilometers of terrestrial and submarine fiber networks across multiple countries and supporting global telecommunications giants.

He commended the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. David Kalu; Chief Information Officer, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe; and the project’s technical team for their *“diligence and commitment”, urging them to maintain focus until full completion.

“Tomorrow belongs to those who make the most of the opportunities that today provides,” Otti declared. “With faith in ourselves and the wind in our sails, we shall take tomorrow.”

The Abia State Duct Infrastructure Development Project, according to the governor, aligns with the administration’s broader ambition to position the state as Nigeria’s digital hub, anchored on innovation, efficiency, and a modern service delivery framework.

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The people of Umukogbuo community in Eluama, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, have united to launch a new initiative — the Okogbuo Charity Foundation — aimed at assisting the less privileged, orphans, and out-of-school youths within the community and beyond.

The foundation, convened by Mr. Chikwendu Nnabuko, seeks to rekindle the traditional spirit of compassion and collective responsibility that the Okogbuo people are known for.

In his address to members of the community, Nnabuko said discussions have been ongoing among sons and daughters of Okogbuo to establish a structured platform that would “help the less privileged among us and reach out to charity homes in Isuikwuato.”

He lamented that some young people in the area have been unable to attend school or acquire skills due to a lack of support, warning that the trend, if not addressed, could endanger the future of the community.

“We have young people of school age who are not in school because they have no one to help them. Some want to acquire skills but lack both direction and means. That does not speak well for the future of our community,” he said.

“Idleness and hopelessness have driven our youth into drugs and violent crimes. If we continue to keep quiet today, tomorrow may be bleak.”

According to him, the Okogbuo Charity Foundation will also collaborate with similar Foundations to extend support to vulnerable children.

Nnabuko explained that contributions to the foundation will be strictly voluntary, noting that what matters most is the spirit of giving. “No one will be tasked. The spirit is what matters. God has been kind to us, and putting a little of what we have together to help others will gladden His heart,” he said.

He announced that a Board of Trustees and an Implementation Committee will be inaugurated to guide the operations of the foundation, ensuring transparency and effective outreach to beneficiaries.

While calling on indigenes at home and in the diaspora to key into the initiative, Nnabuko emphasized that donations will not be limited to members alone, but also open to friends, in-laws, and well-wishers.

The foundation, he added, will be formally launched during the 2025 Christmas holidays, with all interested members listed in a dedicated forum to coordinate activities.

“This is not compulsory for anyone, but those who find this a worthwhile cause will be listed as members. Together, we can give hope to the hopeless and secure a better future for our community,” Nnabuko affirmed.

Picture: Umukogbuo Town Hall

By Foster Obi

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has called on Nigerian leaders to rebuild national systems that reward excellence, competence, and integrity, insisting that the country can achieve true development only through disciplined leadership, visionary ideas, and courageous execution.

Speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference on “Better Leadership for a Better Nigeria” and the public presentation of Prof Arunma Oteh’s new book, All Hands on Deck: Unleash Prosperity through World Class Capital Markets, held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in Abuja, Governor Otti stressed that “prosperity requires more than just huge deposits of raw minerals. Long-term progress is initiated and sustained by the discipline of leadership, the power of ideas, and the courage of execution.”

Leadership and the Power of Ideas

Governor Otti argued that the real difference between successful and struggling nations lies not in the abundance of natural resources, but in the quality of human capital and the focus on leadership.

“Development is a human function — a rigorous intellectual exercise and the end product of blistered hands,” he said.

“Natural resources, when not paired with the requisite human intellect to make the most of them, can in themselves become an albatross to a society’s development aspirations.”

He commended Prof. Arunma Oteh, founder of the Oxford Global Think Tank and author of the newly launched book, for her “brilliant and peerless contributions to the holistic development of the human community, especially in Nigeria and across Africa.”

According to Otti, Oteh’s new book presents “a clear path to resource mobilization without the sneers that come from borrowing,” describing it as “an excellent treatise on economic freedom, preservation of national sovereignty and integration of domestic financiers into the development matrix.”

Fixing the Leadership Recruitment System

Governor Otti identified Nigeria’s “dysfunctional leadership recruitment template” as a major cause of its developmental setbacks, lamenting that mediocrity and arrogance have too often displaced character and competence in public life.

“We have become victims of a system that places scant regard on character, treats compassion as evidence of weakness, mistakes arrogance for competence, and promotes the noisy over the truly courageous,” he declared.

He endorsed Prof. Oteh’s 4Cs leadership philosophy — Character, Compassion, Competence, and Courage — as a model that should guide Nigeria’s next generation of leaders.

Education and Human Capital Development

Otti emphasized that no nation can progress without nurturing its people’s minds through quality education and sound values. He announced that his administration has consistently allocated 20% of Abia State’s annual budget to education in the last two years, making education free and compulsory across the state.

“This policy has more than doubled school enrolment within three months,” he revealed.

“We have recruited over 5,000 teachers and are preparing to hire another 4,000, while upgrading infrastructure and improving teacher welfare.”

He added that the focus of tertiary education in Abia has shifted from producing job seekers to “building leaders who will shape the future of their industries.”

Healthcare as a Human Development Pillar

Governor Otti also highlighted Abia’s renewed investments in healthcare, noting that the state has consistently committed 15% of its annual expenditure to healthcare, in line with the 2001 Abuja Declaration.

He said the goal is to ensure that “every citizen, especially those in rural areas, has access to a properly equipped and staffed medical facility within walking distance.”

A Call for National Renewal

The governor urged Nigerians to embrace a new consciousness of excellence, discipline, and collective responsibility for national rebirth.

“We have stayed in the difficult place of mediocrity for too long. At 65, we should be able to stand firmly on our feet and

March forward in an unyielding resolve to actualize the great destiny that our nation has been called to,” he stated.

Otti expressed pride in Prof. Oteh’s global achievements, describing her as “a shining light and a brilliant example of what we can become when leadership is driven by the commitment to make an impact.”

He concluded by challenging Nigerians to “do better, think deeper, and act bolder,” adding that the path to Nigeria’s greatness lies in the courage to rebuild systems that honour merit and human potential.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, will on Friday, October 24, 2025, flag off the reconstruction of two key road projects — the 25-kilometer Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road and the 13.1-kilometer Ariam–Usaka Ring Road — both located in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state.

The twin flag-off ceremonies are scheduled to be held at the Timber Market, Ahia-Eke, Umuahia North LGA, at 11:00 a.m., and at Obeama Ariam Model Primary School, Ikwuano LGA, at 12:00 noon, respectively.

According to the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, the reconstruction of these strategic roads aligns with Governor Otti’s infrastructure renewal agenda and his administration’s drive to improve rural connectivity and stimulate economic growth across the state.

The Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road, a major inter-state corridor linking Abia to Akwa Ibom, has for years suffered neglect, leading to severe transportation challenges for residents and traders. Similarly, the Ariam–Usaka Ring Road serves as a critical route for agricultural produce and rural commerce within Ikwuano.

When completed, both projects are expected to enhance trade, agriculture, and ease of movement between communities in Abia and neighboring states.

Top government officials, political stakeholders, traditional rulers, transport unions, market associations, and residents of Ikwuano are expected to attend the flag-off ceremonies.

“These projects are part of the administration’s strategic plan to open up rural economies and make life easier for our people,” the Commissioner noted.