Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, has lauded his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, for initiating The Rising Gems Talent Discovery Show, a programme that has uncovered and showcased extraordinary talents among young people across the State.
Governor Otti gave the commendation on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, during the grand finale of the show organised under the Safe Tent Care Initiative of the wife of the Governor.
The Governor described the programme as an important platform for identifying, appreciating and encouraging the abilities of young Abians, noting that it has exposed the wealth of talents in communities across the State.
“This programme has given us the opportunity to discover and appreciate the extraordinary abilities of our people. I want to thank Her Excellency for initiating and supporting this programme. Because you have done this, I am confident that next year’s edition will be even better,” Gov. Otti stated.
The State Chief Executive expressed delight at the success of the initiative and congratulated everyone who contributed to making it a reality.
“I want to thank Her Excellency, the First Lady, for the opportunities we have shared together. It has been wonderful, and I am delighted that this initiative has been successful.
“You have done very well, and I congratulate you. I also want to salute everyone who has been involved in one way or another, particularly the judges, for the important role you have played,” the Governor added.
Governor Otti also commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for its representation at the event and expressed appreciation for its assurance of continued partnership with his administration.
Congratulating the winners, Governor Otti announced that every participant would go home with a cash reward.
“I have the permission of Her Excellency to announce that those who did not receive monetary awards at this event will each receive a minimum of ₦500,000. Nobody is leaving here empty-handed.
“Frankly, if this initiative had not been organised, I would not have known that we have so much talent in our villages,” Gov. Otti declared.
In her remarks, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, recalled that she established her pet project, Safe Tent Care Initiative, in May 2025 to provide meaningful assistance to people in need, in line with her commitment to improving the lives of underserved women, girls, children and other vulnerable groups through practical interventions.
Mrs. Otti explained that the event was designed to provide young people with opportunities to showcase their talents while mobilising support for vulnerable families. She highlighted the importance of combining talent promotion with humanitarian service and urged participants to build character alongside talent.
“Let your character grow alongside your talents,” Mrs. Otti advised.
She called for increased support for vulnerable people and youth empowerment through skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and talent development.
“I believe that one of the surest pathways out of poverty is the acquisition of skills, be it vocational, technological and indeed entrepreneurial. The ability to earn a livelihood brings dignity, choice and the possibility of lasting independence. This conviction shapes our empowerment programmes,” Mrs. Otti stated.
The mother of the State acknowledged the support of the Governor for creating an environment where enterprise, creativity and opportunity can flourish, and encouraged participants to remain committed to learning and consistent practice.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief James Ume, commended the Safe Tent Care Initiative for providing a platform to identify, nurture and promote young talents across Abia State and assured that his foundation would partner with the initiative.
He described the Rising Gems Talent Discovery Show as a laudable initiative that offers young people opportunities to showcase their abilities, build confidence and pursue their dreams. He thanked Governor Otti for creating an enabling environment for youth expression and lauded Mrs. Otti for organising the event.
In her goodwill message, the Communication Officer for UNICEF Nigeria, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, saluted the Otti administration for its commitment to talent development and empowerment of young people and vulnerable groups.
She noted that the achievements of Governor Otti in various sectors, particularly in health and nutrition, are unprecedented, and assured of UNICEF’s continued partnership with the Abia State Government.
Speaking in separate interviews, the overall winner of the talent hunt competition, Mr. Malachy Gideon Okorie, first runner-up, Miss Rachael Godswill, and second runner-up, Miss Jane Kingsley Otta, thanked the Governor and his wife for the initiative, saying it would take their talents to the next level. They said the monetary awards would be invested in their music careers and prayed to God to bless the Governor.
The grand finale, which featured various talent displays, saw the overall winner go home with ₦5 million, while the first and second runners-up received ₦2 million and ₦1 million respectively.
The event attracted many dignitaries, including members of the National and State Houses of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council and the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
October 16, 2026.
