Otti charges Abia youth on service, innovation to drive new Abia project

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged young Abia residents and Indigenes to embrace excellence, innovation, hard work and selfless service as 1,086 youths graduated from the 2026 Abia State Leadership Academy Youth Leadership Boot Camp.

The governor, who spoke at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, on Saturday, from where the 2026 Abia State Leadership Academy Youth Leadership Boot Camp graduates were about to take off their duties in service to nation, was represented by the Chairman, Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Eno Jerry Eze.

Governor Otti’s speech, which was on “The Leadership Vocation”, was delivered at the graduation ceremony held at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, on Saturday.

The function had been organized by the Abia State Leadership Academy in collaboration with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

The governor urged the new graduates to regard their graduation as the commencement of greater responsibility, challenging them to form mentoring clusters, share knowledge and skills acquired and mobilize their wards to be part of the New Abia change agents.

He said the New Abia was a transgenerational project that required patience, perseverance, partnerships and persistent efforts to make it happen.Governor Otti further noted his interest in seeing the ideas the graduates presented during their capstone presentations at the boot camp, as concepts to be implemented.

He challenged the new leaders to make Abia State the best state to live in, adding that the academy would keep a register of them and their contributions while charging them to invest in their personal development.

Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Dr. Eno Jerry Eze, stated that out of the 1,086 graduates selected from over 7,000 applicants, the four-week rigorous boot camp themed, “Raising Transformational Leaders, Innovators and Change-makers,” had helped them acquire knowledge and skills in leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

She noted that the boot camp was an embodiment of the state’s commitment to investing in its youths.

The President of the Abia State Leadership Academy, Prof Kenneth Kalu, said Governor Otti had done a tremendous thing by initiating the academy, adding that the youths should go back to their villages, towns, and communities to lead, add value, and transform based on the values and virtues learned.

He urged the new leaders to always remember to serve with integrity, compassion, and purpose as they continue to impact their immediate environment positively.