Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to merit-based leadership, ethical governance, and effective public service delivery.
Governor Otti spoke on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, during the Abia State Leadership Academy Executive Leadership Series for political appointees and senior public servants. The event was held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, as part of activities marking the 35th anniversary of the creation of Abia State.
The programme, themed “Strengthening Government Ethical Leadership and Public Service Delivery,” focused on leadership development, institutional reforms, accountability, and preparing a new generation of leaders capable of sustaining the State’s development beyond the present administration.
Governor Otti said the Leadership Academy and executive education programmes were designed to build people and institutions, rather than dependence on individuals.
Recalling his interaction with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Gov. Otti said the key lesson was that good leadership should deliberately develop people who can eventually surpass their mentors.
“It is the essence of this Leadership Academy, the essence of this executive education that we are having today. That is how we want to build our own leadership,” Gov. Otti said.
The Governor stressed that merit, competence, and integrity will remain central to his administration’s recruitment and appointment policies. He noted that government positions and opportunities should be earned through open competition rather than political connections.
He cited examples to include admissions into Abia State University, particularly professional courses such as Medicine and Law; the recruitment of the first batch of 5,394 new teachers and another 4,074 teachers now collecting their appointment letters; as well as the appointment of Permanent Secretaries.
“I believe that the good thing about good governance is that once people test it, then it becomes difficult to take them back to where they are coming from.
“We had started, last week, interviewing those that had applied, were screened through computer-based testing, passed, and then the oral interviews.
“Since we came in 2023, we made the appointment of Permanent Secretaries competitive. No longer, ‘this is somebody’s friend, this is somebody’s wife’, no,” Gov. Otti stated.
The State Chief Executive said he has also set up a 25-year development plan for the State, which was legislated upon, and cannot be discarded by future administrations unless such laws are repealed by the State House of Assembly.
The Governor further emphasised the importance of accurate data, proper planning and effective supervision in governance. He announced that the Abia State Bureau of Statistics will soon be established to improve data availability for planning and budgeting. He thanked the guest speaker, Chief Osita Chidoka, for his thought-provoking lecture.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole, called on political appointees and senior public servants to uphold competence, integrity, accountability and transparency in the discharge of their responsibilities. He stressed that public office is a position of trust and that government decisions directly affect the lives of citizens.
Dr. Meribeole stated that the executive session of the Abia Leadership Academy is one of the activities marking the 35th anniversary of Abia State. He added that sustainable development requires strong institutions, ethical leadership and a competent public service, and urged political appointees and career civil servants to work together as one government towards achieving Governor Alex Otti’s vision of a better Abia.
Also speaking, the President of Abia State Leadership Academy, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, said the academy also operates Executive Education and Enterprise Development programmes designed to equip emerging and established leaders with transformational leadership skills, while strengthening the capacity of small businesses in areas such as financial and management practices.
He described the Executive Education Programme as a significant milestone and welcomed the guest speaker. He urged participants to apply the lessons from the session in their respective offices for improved service delivery.
Delivering a lecture titled “Strengthening Governance: Ethical Leadership and Public Service Delivery,” former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, said the success of any government ultimately depends on the administrative capacity of its people. He stressed that political appointees must possess the competence to translate the vision of government into concrete results.
Using the story of a missing pair of scissors at a commissioning ceremony as an illustration, he described State capacity as “the ability of government to convert intention into execution.” He noted that while government may announce policies, approve budgets and articulate ambitious development plans, it is the appointees and career officers who stand between those intentions and the experience of citizens.
“There is no high-capacity State without high-capacity people,” he declared, urging Abia appointees to recognise that administrative capability, competence and professionalism are indispensable to effective governance.
Drawing lessons from China, Britain, Singapore and Rwanda, Chief Chidoka emphasised the importance of merit, administrative capability, execution and accountability in building enduring institutions. He observed that policy without execution remains only a document, stressing that Abia’s development vision must therefore be matched by a public service capable of delivering.
He further called on political appointees to deliberately create alignment with career civil servants, noting that while political appointees may have only 48 months to deliver on the mandate of an administration, career officers can remain in the public service for decades.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE, Commissioners, all appointees of Government, including Permanent Secretaries.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
August 25, 2026.
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