Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, says he is committed to making life more meaningful for Abians and residents through aggressive investments in healthcare and other welfare programmes.
Governor Otti stated this on Wednesday in his office while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Optometrists Association (NOA), who are in the State for the 48th annual conference and election of the association.
“The average Nigerian is struggling. And whatever we can do to make life more meaningful and easier for them, this government would support you in doing that.
“The major point is that everything that the government does should be about the welfare of the people. Anytime a government is in place and people are complaining, that government had better look at its vision again.
“Because the essence of government and governance is the welfare of the people. Some people talk about security, but I want to subsume security under welfare. Because if you are not secure, then there’s no welfare. And if you are not healthy, then no welfare. So everything is about welfare.
The Governor, who commended the association for all the impact it has made in Abia State, appreciated it for hosting the annual conference in the State, and described the theme of the conference, “Optometry in a Changing World, as apt.
He assured members of the association of his sustained support in whatever they may need, to make their stay comfortable.
Governor Otti noted the impact of his administration in the healthcare sector, particularly, the establishment of the Abia State Eyecare Management Bureau, which made Abia, perhaps the only State in the federation with such an establishment, and disclosed that the bureau has conducted free screening and treatments, including surgeries, for thousands of Abians across the 17 LGAs.
On the request for the Governor to support a legislative backing for the decentralization of the National Vision Centre, Governor Otti assured that he would follow up with the bill at the National Assembly and encourage the visitors to make out time to go round the State especially, Aba – the commercial nerve centre of the South-East to see things for themselves before leaving the State.
Speaking earlier, the President Nigerian Optometrists Association, Dr Chimezirim Anderson, said that they were in the State for their upcoming National conference holding in Abia State on Thursday this week, which he said is significant, as it would feature an election for his second term.
Dr. Anderson, who thanked Governor Otti for appointing their members to positions of authority, including Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, the Administrator of the Eyecare Management Bureau, Dr. Betty Emeka-Obasi, also saluted the Governor for the transformational developments taking place in Abia State, saying that in Governor Alex Otti, Abians got what they ordered.
He informed the Governor that the association has established vision centres across Abia, and added that Abia has the highest number of eyecare vision centres in the country. He requested the Governor to support the association to secure full legislative backing for the bill to decentralise the National Vision Centre, which is at the National Assembly, and requested a parcel of land for the Association to build their regional office in Abia State.
In her vote of thanks, the Administrator of Eye Management Bureau, Dr. Betty Emeka-Obasi, thanked the National Association of Optometrists for choosing Abia as the destination for her National Conference. She reminded the audience about the words on the marble by Governor Alex Otti, who always says that, “capital is like a woman who goes where she is attracted to”. She appreciated Governor Otti for creating an enabling and secure environment that attracted the National Association of Optometrists to pick Abia State as the choice destination with over a thousand Optometrists in the State and the economic attention on Abia State as all hotels are filled in Umuahia.
Top government officials, including the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, the Administrator of the Eyecare Management Bureau, Dr. BettyEmeka-Obasia Obasi, among others, were present at the visit.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
23 – 07 – 2025.
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