Abia Graduates Second Batch Of Leadership Academy Trainees, Targets New Generation Of Leaders

The Abia State Government has graduated the second batch of trainees from the Abia Leadership Academy, an initiative designed to nurture a new generation of transformational leaders in the state and beyond.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Governor Alex Otti, OFR, said the programme was conceived to redirect young people towards purposeful living and responsible citizenship. He charged the participants to embrace continuous learning and to use their knowledge to positively influence others.

“Leadership is the ability to influence and drive outcomes. What we set out to do here, which we will continue to do, is to redirect our people—redirect our young ones, redirect their vision, redirect their thinking. Gone are the days when our young ones are left to become thugs or indulge in drugs, cultism, and other nefarious activities,” the Governor said.

Governor Otti emphasized that the Academy is tied to his administration’s broader social reorientation agenda, aimed at raising leaders who can think deeply and broadly in the face of challenges.

He disclosed that every graduate of the programme will be required to mentor at least one person monthly over the next 12 months, while a digital platform has been created to keep the alumni engaged and connected.

“Our target is to build a large community of leaders who are acquainted with each other as young people and can seamlessly create new frontlines of partnership,” he added.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the Academy, Professor Kenneth Kalu, said the vision of the programme is to build leaders who will