As part of activities marking the third anniversary of the present administration in the State, Governor Alex Otti has flagged -Off the construction of the Ecumenical Centre in Umuagu, the Umuahia capital city.

Speaking while performing the foundation laying ceremony of the 1,000 capacity building in company of Bishop Chikezie Elekwa, Governor Otti said the Ecumenical Centre being built for the Christian community in Abia State is a fulfillment of promise he had made before his election in 2023.

“Like I said earlier, this centre was one of the things we had vowed to do when we came into office.

“This land where we are standing was acquired in 2009 and has somehow remained fallow waiting for this day,” Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti clarified that the Ecumenical Centre he is building is not going to be funded by the State Government but from his private pause.

“The Ecumenical Centre is not going to be built with government money. No one Dime from the State government will go in there.

“I have already provided the land, I bought that land in 2009, that’s 17 years ago,” Gov. Otti stated.

In his speech, the contractor handling the project, Architect Onuka Ukwa said that the Ecumenical Centre is actually an ultra modern building to house over 1,000 worshippers.

He said that it is designed to cater for all Churches in the State, regardless their denomination. While assuring to deliver within 18 months, the architect thanked the Governor for the opportunity given to him.

“So, it’s a multi-purpose, very functional building, and we hope to complete the building within 18 months from now.

“I would thank His Excellency for the trust in us, and we promise that we deliver the project to his very high expectations. Thank you, Your Excellency, Ukwa stated.

Members of the National and State Assembly, SSG, Chief of Staff, Commissioners, members of the clergy led by Bishop Chikezie Elekwa were present at the foundation laying ceremony.

The Abia State Government on Sunday held a grand Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service to commemorate the third anniversary of the administration of Governor Alex Otti, OFR, .

The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to God, purposeful leadership, and the fulfillment of promises made to Ndi Abia.
The thanksgiving service, held at the Trademore Event Centre, Umuahia, marked the formal commencement of activities for the third anniversary celebration of the present administration and brought together government officials, religious leaders, traditional rulers, political stakeholders, and citizens from across the state in worship, reflection, and appreciation to God for what has been described as three years of transformation and renewed hope in Abia State.

Addressing the congregation, Governor Alex Otti declared that thanksgiving to God remains a personal conviction for him and his family, stressing that every success recorded by his administration since assumption of office has been made possible through divine guidance and grace.
The Governor recalled that immediately after being sworn into office, his administration rededicated Abia State to God and made a solemn vow to seek divine direction in governance.
“We started by taking the State to God in prayers and rededicated the State immediately after we were sworn in,” Governor Otti stated.

Reaffirming his faith and commitment to fulfilling promises made before God, Governor Otti disclosed plans to commence the construction of an Ecumenical Centre in Umuahia, describing it as a personal vow project that would be funded entirely from private resources without any financial contribution from the Abia State Government.

According to him, the land earmarked for the project was personally acquired in 2009, years before he assumed office as Governor.
“We vowed that we are going to build an Ecumenical Centre in Umuahia for God. The Ecumenical Centre is not going to be built with government money. No dime from the State government will go into it,” the Governor emphasized.
Governor Otti also expressed deep appreciation to clergymen across the state for their sustained prayers and spiritual support for his administration. He particularly acknowledged the President of Living Word Ministries International, Dr. Emma Okorie, for standing by him over the years, recalling the challenges the cleric faced for identifying with him during his 2014 governorship aspiration.

Delivering the sermon titled, “Where There Is No Vision, the People Perish,” the President of Living Word Ministries International, Dr. Emma Okorie, described Governor Otti as a “God-sent leader” on a divine mission to restore and reposition Abia State.
Drawing his text from Exodus 3:1–10, Dr. Okorie likened Abia’s journey to that of the Israelites in bondage, arguing that years of poor leadership had subjected the state to hardship before divine intervention brought Governor Otti to office.
He stated that the Governor’s emergence symbolized God’s answer to the prayers and aspirations of the people of Abia, urging citizens to sustain their support for the administration.

Also speaking, the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Michael Ukpong, urged Governor Otti and members of his administration to remain steadfast in doing good and resist distractions.
He assured the Governor of continued divine guidance and prayers from the people, stressing that commitment to good governance would continue to attract God’s protection and favour.
“All God needs from you is your trust and for you to continue doing good. Do not allow anything to distract you from the good works you are doing, and the prayers of the people will continue to be with you,” Bishop Ukpong stated.

In his testimony, the Archbishop of Methodist Church Nigeria, Umuahia Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzor Opoko, applauded Governor Otti’s leadership style and reeled out what he described as landmark achievements of the administration.
He cited improvements in road infrastructure, elimination of salary and pension payment disparities, clearance of arrears owed by previous administrations, intervention in erosion-ravaged areas, revitalization of healthcare delivery, and reforms in the education sector as clear evidence of transformational governance.

According to the cleric, Governor Otti’s achievements had restored pride and confidence among Abians, urging citizens to support the administration and avoid politicizing their collective future.
“Before now, Abians were blind, but today, they can see. Do not use your destinies to play politics,” he charged.

The thanksgiving service attracted a high-profile gathering of dignitaries including the wife of the Governor, Her Excellency Mrs. Priscilla Otti; the Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu; Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa; the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Lilian Abai; members of the National and State Assemblies; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba; Head of Service, Mr. Benson Ojeikere; members of the State Executive Council; traditional rulers led by Eze Linus Nto Mbah; and an array of religious leaders and stakeholders.

The event underscored what participants described as a moment of gratitude, unity, and renewed commitment to sustaining the vision of a prosperous and transformed Abia State under Governor Alex Otti’s leadership.

Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has charged women not to give up on their dreams and visions in life, urging them to remain focused and persistent in pursuit of their goals.

Governor Otti gave the charge on Saturday, 16th May, during the WODDI Inspiring Women Summit (WIWS), held at Blanc Galleria, Central Business District, Abuja, with the theme: “PUSH – Position Until Something Happens.”

The Governor encouraged women to draw inspiration from his personal journey to becoming the Governor of Abia State, noting that he contested elections three consecutive times before eventually realising his dream.

WODDI, meaning Women of Divine Destiny Initiative, is a non-profit organisation founded by Her Excellency, Zinaria Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, wife of the immediate past Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Rochas Okorocha.

WODDI envisions “a world where every woman, adolescent, youth, and person living with disabilities is empowered to lead with purpose, live with dignity, and drive transformative change within their families, communities, and nations.”

Speaking during the event, Governor Otti, who sat patiently for hours listening to the discussions at the summit, made reference to a statement by one of the guest speakers, Dr. Linus Okorie, MFR, which he said deeply resonated with him.

Governor Otti said, “There is something that Dr. Linus Okorie said, which resonates with me. And that is, never, ever give up. Never give up.

“So, for the women, never, ever, give up. Don’t accept no for an answer. If you try and fail, try, try, and try again.

“If you are in doubt, ask me. You know why, I ran election in 2015, I ran again in 2019, and people say, you’ve tried, go elsewhere. In 2023, I ran again. If I didn’t run in 2023, will I be here today?

“So, if you have a dream, hold on to your dream, never give up.” Gov. Otti charged.

Speaking further, he encouraged the women to always strive to learn new things, noting that learning never ends until a person dies.

“And the most important point we made here is that people must be open to learning. Any day you stopped learning, you are dead. You can never know everything.” Gov. Otti added.

Commenting on the theme of the summit, PUSH – Position Until Something Happens, Governor Otti said that it is important to determine where you want to be and what you expect to achieve.

The State Chief Executive stated that many people think to position means remaining static or staying in one place, which he discouraged. He explained that positioning also involves repositioning when necessary. Sometimes, it may even require changing your position completely.

Governor Otti added that true positioning is not being static. It means studying the situation, understanding changes around you, and adjusting accordingly in order to reach your goal.

The Governor commended the convener for redefining empowerment which he said aligns with the vision of his government. In his words, “A lot of people define empowerment as handouts – giving somebody a piece of cake; giving him food to eat; giving him fish.
“From what I have seen here, looking at the brochure and listening to all the conversations around here, she is going beyond giving fish.

“This is about teaching you how to fish and ensuring sustainability. Because, we can give you fish today, tomorrow you are hungry again. But if you know how to fish, and if you have been empowered to fish, when you need fish, you go and fish.”

He also commended her for the three books she wrote which was unveiled at the summit by Mrs Dolapo Osibanjo, wife of the immediate former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo.

Governor Otti noted that a lot of people do not read anymore and opined that he who does not read, has no advantage over he who cannot read. He encouraged people to obtain copies of each of the books and make out time to read them.

The husband of the convener, His Excellency, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, who also spoke at the event, said that, it took him years to fully understand his wife, adding that, “Being there for the people is her joy.”

The convener of the summit and founder of WODDI, Mrs Zinaria Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, PhD, said that “WODDI was born from a simple but unwavering belief; that no woman is defined by her circumstances, and that within every woman, lies a strength, a purpose, and a potential that deserves to be seen, supported, and expressed.”
She stressed that everything the organization has done is guided by that belief.

The summit was attended by the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Hajia Nana Shettima (represented ), diplomats, wives of former Governors and Senators, among other women and men of power and influence across all walks of life.