Abia Leadership Academy, Strategic Institution For Training Future Leaders, Says Gov
Boniface Okoro in Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, says the Abia State Leadership Academy was established as a strategic institution where ethics, values, and practical leadership skills would be instilled in Abia youths.
He said the essence was to catch them young, adding “we are committed to getting it right with the younger generation. Otherwise, our wider development efforts will be in jeopardy.”
Governor Otti, represented by his Deputy, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, spoke while declaring open the 2026 Youth Leadership Bootcamp of the Abia State Leadership Academy. The batch has 1, 000 participants selected from 7, 000 applicants. The training holds every long vacation at Government College, Umuahia, since the Otti administration came to power.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to developing young Abians as future leaders of the state and nation and charged the participants to learn with humility and participate actively in the programme.
“This year’s programme is particularly significant, with 1,000 participants selected from more than 7,000 applicants. That response tells us our young people are hungry for genuine transformation—and they trust this administration to deliver it.
“For 2026, we’ve partnered with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University—a global-standard institution with ties to the World Bank, Goldman Sachs, and MasterCard.
“To our young participants, your selection is only the beginning. I urge you to learn with humility, participate actively, build meaningful relationships and, most importantly, use what you learn to positively influence your schools, communities and State,” the Governor said.
Earlier, the facilitator of the programme and Chairman of Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Mrs. Eno Jerry –Eze, represented by Rev. Mrs. Ifeoma Agu, said that the programme was an opportunity to for the youths to imbibe the ideals of civic responsibility and urged the participants to be determined to use the lessons of the bootcamp to better their lives as well as bring about the change they crave for.
Mrs. Jerry-Eze thanked the governor for placing the youths in the leadership map in Nigeria and for leaving a legacy that assures that the leadership he has introduced would be sustained.
Delivering a lecture on the theme of the training: ‘The Demands of Stewardship’, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, noted that the governor was investing in the lives of the teenagers and young leaders of the state through the academy.
Pastor Ajagba, while describing the initiative as a strategic investment in the future of the state and a lasting legacy that will shape the character, mindset and leadership capacity of generations yet unborn, disclosed that by intentionally preparing young people for responsible leadership, Governor Otti was laying a firm foundation for sustainable development and ensuring that the ideals of integrity, innovation and public service remain deeply rooted in Abia’s future.
He added that it was an honour for all those invited to share their perspectives in the noble vision of raising a generation of principled, disciplined and transformational leaders through the academy and applauded the exemplary life of vision, focus, sacrifice, discipline, competence, integrity of Governor Otti and assuring of the unwavering commitment of the Governor to good governance and purposeful leadership.
Also speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of the development partner – the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Pan-Athlantic University, Dr. Uche Egbuna, said the future of every society depends on the quality of leaders it intentionally develops, adding that leadership was about responsibility, integrity and service.
Dr. Egbuna stated that the boot camp was built on four key pillars: leadership and service, enterprise, impact and innovation, and encouraged participants to strive for meaningful impact by becoming problem-solvers and change-makers.
He described the partnership with the Abia State Leadership Academy as a shared commitment to developing ethical leaders, resilient entrepreneurs and innovative young people who will contribute to economic growth and social transformation.
President of Abia State Leadership Academy, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, disclosed that 7052 persons applied for the programme and about 1000 were qualified after the rigorous processes of selection.
Prof. Kalu enjoined the participants to remember that they were expected “to think, reflect and become” future leaders, emphasising that what was more important was not that they participated in the programme but what they become from the programme.
Responding on behalf of the participants, Chukwuemerie Obiorah and Treasure Ogbonna thanked the governor for the opportunity given them to become transformational leaders, assuring that they would not disappoint but make good use of the bootcamp to better citizens in the society.
The opening ceremony of the bootcamp being coordinated by the Programme Manager, Abia State Leadership Academy and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication, Mr. Dodoh Okafor, was graced by Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole; Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Emeh Uche; Principal Secretary and Chief Strategist Officer of the state, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, among other government officials.