The Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Ms Sharon Dimanche, has expressed the readiness of IOM to partner with the Abia State Government and facilitate the rapid deployment of systems for targeted service delivery in high-priority areas of the State.
Ms Sharon Dimanche stated this on Thursday, April 2nd, when she led officials of the organisation to visit Governor Otti in his office.
Ms Dimanche said that her visit was also to review progress made since her last meeting with the Governor in September 2025 and to seek guidance on areas where programme delivery could be accelerated.
She listed key achievements recorded since the last visit to include the establishment of a state-level task force on human trafficking, which is scheduled for inauguration on April 13, 2026.
She reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to support the Abia State Government in accelerating key development initiatives across the State.
“IOM stands ready to support the State in accelerating your priority initiatives, and we believe this will feed into the large-scale programme implementation.
“We will be happy to support community-level infrastructure and stabilisation projects, including targeted service delivery in priority and hard-to-reach areas.
“We want to work with your team to ensure that things are done efficiently and with speed,” Dimanche said.
She added that the organisation was particularly interested in helping the Governor’s administration translate its strategic vision into visible and measurable impact.
Ms Dimanche added that the IOM was committed to ensuring quick wins and scalable impact across Abia State and proposed immediate steps for deeper collaboration.
She further called on the State government to identify top priority areas, designate a State focal point that it can work with, and establish a joint technical team to develop focused programme concepts.
The IOM boss commended Governor Otti’s leadership, describing him as “one of the very special Governors in this country”, adding that his leadership style and vision had attracted commendation from people across political divides.
“Every person I interact with acknowledges and appreciates your leadership, regardless of party affiliation.
“That shows the strength of your vision for economic development, transformation, job creation and inclusive growth,” Ms Dimanche said.
Ms Dimanche, who lauded the leadership of Governor Otti for its commitment to combating human trafficking, added that plans had also been concluded for capacity-building training for task force members and victims protection support.
On diaspora engagement, she praised the establishment of the Abia Diaspora Commission, adding that IOM had already commenced an institutional capacity needs assessment for the commission.
The IOM Chief, who said that she sees 3 areas of partnership, including diaspora engagement, value chains, enterprise development and community level resilience, also emphasised the importance of data and evidence-based policy making, revealing that an information management needs assessment conducted in October had been completed.
She said that the next steps include the establishment of a multi-stakeholder data management committee and capacity building for effective data integration into governance and development programmes.
Receiving the team, Governor Alex Otti reiterated his administration’s commitment to economic transformation, inclusive growth and improved social services as part of his efforts to curb poverty and encourage reverse migration.
The Governor recalled that during IOM’s previous visit, the discussions centred on migration and possible strategies to encourage reverse migration, and said that many people migrate, whether legally or illegally, in search of better opportunities, believing that conditions elsewhere are more favourable.
Gov. Otti, however, noted that such expectations were sometimes illusory, stressing that the solution lies in creating an enabling environment that guarantees transparency, fairness, justice and equity.
Governor Otti said that the State government was interested in exploring options such as funding support, including diaspora funding and bond instruments from IOM.
The Governor noted that the State government is also interested in building strategic partnerships in key projects, such as the proposed medical city and airport project.
The State Chief Executive said that support from credible international organisations such as the IOM would boost investors’ confidence and attract more development partners to the State.
Gov. Otti assured the IOM Chief of Missions that the State technical team would further engage with the organisation to work out the details of the partnership and identify priority areas where the State needs intervention.
The Governor further noted that access to quality healthcare remained one of the major factors influencing migration decisions.
“If a person cannot access good healthcare in one location but can get it elsewhere, it becomes reasonable for such a person to relocate.
“Some ailments can be easily managed if the basic things are in place, especially functional primary healthcare centres,” Gov. Otti said.
Governor Otti said that the State had gone beyond basic primary healthcare delivery, adding that between 80 and 85 per cent of healthcare needs could now be addressed at that level.
The Governor said that the State government had put in place minimum standards, including the provision of equipment and qualified healthcare professionals.
Gov. Otti said that the introduction of free education had led to a sharp increase in school enrolment across the State and disclosed that enrolment figures doubled shortly after the policy was introduced, which led him to employ over 5000 teachers, while another set of about 4,000 is currently being processed for employment.
The Governor was joined in the meeting by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD, Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa, Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Hon. Blessing Felix, SSA Multi-Lateral and Donor Agencies, Hon. Odinakachi Eric EME, among other senior Government appointees.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
April 2nd, 2026.
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