Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has charged the 100 pioneer graduates of the ThriveAbia initiative to deploy the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme to create opportunities, mentor other young people and drive the economic transformation of the state.

Governor Otti gave the charge at the graduation ceremony of the maiden Cohort of ThriveAbia, held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.

The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole, described the graduates as innovators, entrepreneurs, problem-solvers and ambassadors of a new Abia. He said the programme is a testament to his administration’s commitment to investing in human capital as the foundation for sustainable development.

“The knowledge you have acquired must not end with you. Each of you must become a multiplier of opportunities,” Governor Otti stated.

“Imagine if each of you trains or mentors just 10 other young people, that would mean 1,000 additional young people empowered through this maiden cohort alone. And if this 1,000 empower others, the possibility becomes enormous. I’m therefore challenging you to return to your communities, share your knowledge, mentor others and develop solutions to the challenges around you. Let the impact of this programme be felt across all the 17 local government areas of Abia State.”

The Governor emphasized that his administration views investment in human capital not as expenditure, but as investment in Abia’s future prosperity. While respecting the right of Abians to pursue opportunities globally, he said his vision is to make Abia a place where young people can thrive.

“Today, a software engineer in Umuahia can work for a company in London or the US. A graphic designer in Aba can serve clients in New York. A digital entrepreneur in Ohafia can provide solutions across Africa. Technology has made the world a global village, a global marketplace and Abia must take its rightful place in that marketplace. My message is simple: Stay, build, innovate and thrive,” he said, noting that infrastructure, education and economic reforms are interconnected pillars of his vision for a competitive and prosperous Abia.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. David Kalu, said ThriveAbia was deliberately designed to go beyond conventional training by embedding mentorship to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and professional workplace skills.

“Our objective was not simply to produce trainees. Our objective was to produce talent,” Dr. Kalu said, adding that the focus on measurable outcomes is the hallmark of the programme.

He disclosed that the Ministry created pathways linking training to practical work experience through a pilot internship programme with a global cybersecurity and technology company operating across emerging tech fields, involving CV collection, candidate screening, interview follow-ups and placement tracking.

He reminded the graduates that ThriveAbia operates on a train-the-trainer model, urging them to become multipliers who will mentor subsequent cohorts.

Also speaking, one of the implementation partners and Co-founder of Tech Excentric and Curate, Mr. Gilbert Igwe, said the essence of the programme is to empower youths in tech to earn and to train others. He expressed delight that over 50% of the graduates are already earning in dollars, employed and training others, proving that government partnership with the right private sector yields results.

Some of the graduates in their testimonies, thanked Governor Otti for the opportunity, noting that they can now deploy multiple technological tools to improve their work and have started securing remote job connections. They pleaded for sustenance of the programme to benefit more Abia youths.

The ceremony, which attracted top government officials, featured presentations by the graduands on skills acquired and the presentation of certificates.

The Abia State Government has flagged off the 2026 Zonal Traditional Rulers’ Capacity Building Workshop for Abia Central Senatorial Zone, as part of efforts to strengthen traditional institutions for peace, security and grassroots development.

Governor Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, declared the workshop open on Thursday, July 6, 2026 at the Umuahia North LGA Headquarters. He was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu.

The Governor said the workshop was designed to equip royal fathers with modern tools for conflict resolution, administrative leadership and community development.

“We are not gathering traditional rulers just to have you in one place. Our core objective is to awaken the responsibility consciousness of our traditional rulers and connect the timeless wisdom of our community leadership heritage with the evolving demands of modern governance,” Gov. Otti stated.

He described traditional rulers as _”the first line of defence in community peace, stability and development” and urged them to make effective use of the training.

The workshop, organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in collaboration with the 17 Local Government Councils, has the theme: “Strengthening Traditional Institutions for Peace, Security, Inclusive Governance and Sustainable Community Development in Abia State.”

Giving an overview, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Lady Oge Maduka, said the programme seeks to strengthen leadership capacity, reinforce cultural custodianship, and provide a platform for exchange of ideas to address modern challenges at the grassroots.

Speaking for participants, the Traditional Ruler of Ọrọ-Ibere Autonomous Community, Eze Dr. Stanley Ijenwa, commended Governor Otti for the initiative. He described the workshop as timely and urged that it be sustained, assuring that traditional rulers will implement the lessons learnt to enhance peace and security in their domains.

The zonal workshop is the first in the series scheduled for the three senatorial zones in the state and featured paper presentations by resource persons.

A landmark joint venture project of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and the Abia State Government has been formally launched in the state.

This Nigeria’s first Manufacturing Technology University Innovation Pod (Manu-Tech UniPod) was officially launched  at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State.

Speaking during the inauguration, the Vice President, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, represented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf OlaTunji Alausa said the establishment of the Manu-Tech UniPod reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning higher education as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, research commercialisation, and job creation.

Describing it as a “strategic investment in Nigeria’s future,” the Vice President noted that Universities must evolve beyond traditional teaching and research to become hubs for enterprise development, technology transfer, and industrial competitiveness.

In his keynote address titled “Science Meets Enterprise,” Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, said the siting of the UniPod in Abia speaks to the institutional faith the UNDP and Federal Government have in the State’s potential as an engine of growth and economic prosperity in the region.

He noted that, the faith and efforts the partners have in Abia is yielding tangible results, adding that the event is a demonstration of that, and appreciated the siting of the project in Abia.

“The siting of the Manu-Tech UniPod in Abia speaks eloquently to the institutional faith UNDP and the Federal Government of Nigeria have reposed in our dear State and the potential it holds as an engine of growth and economic prosperity in the region.

The Governor who disclosed that his government supported the UniPod project because it aligns perfectly with the economic development outline of his administration, noted that,

“With the launch of the UniPod, a new interest in qualitative research will develop as scientists, students and everyone connected to the University ecosystem begin to look beyond random and hurried publication of academic papers just to score points for the next promotion cycle.

“The expectation is that research efforts henceforth will be directed at answering questions with practical, everyday applications” Gov. Otti stated.

The Governor thanked all the stakeholders and partners including the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the UNDP for their efforts and willpower that gave birth to the transformational project.

“Over the last 3 years, we have found them to be reliable partners which explains our expanding body of joint ventures projects targeting entrepreneurship development, job creation and similar initiatives aimed at opening new layers of economic and social opportunities for our women and young people in particular,” Gov. Otti stated.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, described the launch as part of a broader national innovation ecosystem being developed across Nigeria through the UniPod initiative.

She explained that the programme aims to connect education, research, innovation, enterprise, and manufacturing, enabling Universities to become drivers of economic growth and global competitiveness.

Ms. Attafuah commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Federal Ministry of Education, TETFund, and the Abia State Government for their commitment to innovation-driven development. She particularly extolled Governor Alex Otti for his vision of transforming Abia into Nigeria’s leading hub for manufacturing and industrial innovation.

Earlier in her speech, the Vice-Chancellor of MOUAU, Professor Ursala Akanwa, described the commissioning as a defining moment in the University’s history.

She said the project represents the fulfilment of the institution’s mandate to deploy science, technology, and innovation in advancing agricultural development, manufacturing, and enterprise.

Prof. Akanwa expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, Federal Ministry of Education, UNDP, TETFund, and the Abia State Government for choosing MOUAU to host Nigeria’s first Manufacturing Tech UniPod.

The event was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders. The Manu-Tech UniPod is expected to provide students, researchers, and entrepreneurs with access to advanced manufacturing equipment, prototyping facilities, and industry mentorship to convert research ideas into market-ready products.