Protocols duly observed.
Distinguished guests, respected media practitioners, esteemed partners in nation-building, and the brilliant minds of tomorrow gathered here today. I bring you warm and sincere greetings from the Government and people of Abia State.
It is with great honour and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today on behalf of the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, to lend our voice to a theme that sits at the very heart of modern progress and participatory governance “Image Makers: Shaping Culture, Inspiring Change Through Media.”
Permit me to begin by commending Vision Africa and the indefatigable Bishop Dr. Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha for sustaining this transformative initiative for twelve years. This institute is more than a training ground, it is a vision factory, a cradle for conscience-driven communicators, and a launchpad for those who will shape the future through storytelling.
Today, as we gather here in Umuahia, the political, cultural, and media capital of Abia State, we must reflect on the significance of the moment. The media is no longer just the Fourth Estate of the realm. In today’s world, especially in Abia where our people are intelligent, politically aware, and digitally connected, the media has become the first responder to perception, the referee in public discourse, and the mirror through which Abians see their government, their state, and indeed, themselves.
We live in a time where images craft identities, and narratives influence destinies. The media doesn’t just report the news, it defines the atmosphere. It doesn’t just reflect culture, it reconstructs it. And here in Abia, where we are redefining governance under the New Abia agenda, we see the media as a strategic partner in this collective journey of restoration, transformation, and renewal.
Under Governor Alex Otti, we are building not just infrastructure, but a culture of integrity. We are not just resurfacing roads, we are rebuilding trust. And in this critical process, we need men and women of the media who will document truth, inspire action, and elevate our people’s aspirations.
The theme before us today speaks of image makers. But who is an image maker?
An image maker is a curator of perception, a custodian of context, and above all, a mediator between what is real and what is reported. You, the media, hold the delicate brush that paints the public portrait of Abia, whether as a place of growth or stagnation, unity or division, hope or despair.
Therefore, we urge you to wield this brush with courage, clarity, and conscience.
In today’s Abia, where our government is setting new standards in governance, we need media practitioners who can interpret data with depth, not distortion.
In today’s Abia, where we are reviving hospitals, reforming schools, empowering youth, and transforming markets like Ariaria, we need stories that contextualize and celebrate impact.
In today’s Abia, where security and economic recovery are top priorities, we need narratives that inspire confidence, not fear.
This is why we believe every media practitioner must answer these three questions:
- What story am I telling?
- Whose voice am I amplifying?
- What future am I inspiring through this story?
Media practitioners are cultural architects. Through your camera lenses, microphones, editorials, and tweets, you frame the soul of a people. And that soul must not be trivialized. Let it be truth-driven, development-oriented, and value-laden.
This administration will continue to support and collaborate with media professionals who embody these ideals. We believe in an open government that engages, listens, and communicates, because an informed citizenry is an empowered citizenry.
As His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti often says:
“In your little corner, lead by example. Don’t also worry if people criticize you, just stay focused and let your work speak louder than their noise.”
So to the young media professionals being trained here today: you are not just acquiring skills, you are being equipped with a national assignment. Go out and tell the stories that matter. Go out and reshape the Abia narrative not with propaganda, but with principled storytelling. Document not only what is wrong, but also what is working, and why it must be sustained.
In conclusion, I urge all media practitioners in Abia and across Nigeria to remain faithful image makers, not merchants of fake news. Let us shape a culture of peace, resilience, innovation, and purpose. Let us inspire change, not just through headlines, but through truth lines.
Thank you once again to Vision Africa for being a shining light. Thank you to the trainers and facilitators for raising the bar. And thank you to every one of you who dares to believe that the media can be a force for good.
Together, we will tell a better Abia story.
Together, we will inspire a new culture of governance.
And together, we will shape change that is real, visible, and sustainable.
Thank you, and God bless you all.
Dr Alex Otti,OFR
24/06/2025
Delivered on his behalf by the Hon Commissioner for information,
Prince Okey Kanu
