1000 Abia Leadership Academy Graduates – a fresh approach in youth empowerment
By Elvis Chukwu
There is no doubt that the paradigm shift in mind set is gaining traction across Abia as regards youth development and empowerment under the forward thinking administration of Governor Alex Chioma Otti.
Before now, youth empowerment in the state simply meant at best, the distribution of ‘basic handouts’ with very limited impact on the lives of those who receive such hand outs beyond the immediate.
The future was never factored in by those who embark on the distribution owing to a lack of sincerity of purpose and an intent locked on cronyism and self aggrandizement; the exercise is not really meant to benefit the ‘beneficiaries’ but to make a show all in the process of going through the motions in keeping the people deceived!
Huge public funds have been spent by past administrations in the state on the distribution of motorcycles, tricycles, cart movers and even motor vehicles under the guise of youth empowerment but with very little lasting impact on those who receive these items.
Governor Alex Ottis’ approach in youth empowerment speaks to a process which targets the future of the next generation of Abia youths living in a competitive world which places a very high premium on a creative mind which exhibits skills to solve contemporary global problems in an ever evolving world.
In this, Gov. Otti is stepping up youth empowerment by instilling leadership skills to young Abians between the ages of 16 and 20 through the Abia Leadership Academy in a novel approach aimed at thrusting today’s youth into tomorrow’s Leadership sphere through training and mentorship.
The world recently witnessed the graduation and send-off ceremony of the first batch and pioneer class of the Abia Leadership Academy, cohort one. A thousand young Abians successfully completed the seven days intensive leadership training hosted at the iconic Government College, Umuahia.
Governor Otti has assured that this is the first in a series of trainings which aims to raise thousands of Abia youths in the next few years. These Abia youths according to the vision of the governor will be nurtured to promote and uphold the greater ideals of creative governance in the country and across the World.
Head of Abia State Civil Service Commission and member of the Abia Leadership Academy organising committee, Pastor Eno Jerry – Eze noted that the academy is raising a critical mass of young leaders who believe that change is possible and who are equipped to drive it.
More so, Abia Leadership Academy envisions a future where the top 10% of professionals across industry globally will be proudly traced to Abia Leadership Academy in the years ahead.
Knowledge is the bedrock of development. Yet, knowledge must be married with sound character, loyalty, ethics, and integrity. These ideals are the building blocks with which ALA is raising a crop of future leaders who can protect and build society’s collective commonwealth.
True to his forward thinking approach in human capital development and personnel management, the States Chief Executive has instructed the ALA project managers to map out how the 1,000 participants and recent graduates would be sent to various secondary and tertiary institutions to share what they have learnt with others.
One can argue that the first 1,000 cohort of graduates from the Abia Leadership Academy are made for life with the skills imbibed at the academy. What they have gotten stays with them and will always impact those they come in contact with. This is sustainability in human capital development as envisioned by forward thinking Gov. Otti.
One cannot but relate this with the Governors position on education and the need for learning to be functional and relevant to today’s world of Artificial intelligence in problem solving measures for human advancement.
Thus Governor Alex Ottis’ administration has scored another first in restructuring human capital development beyond the usual which many have become accustomed to because of ineffectiveness.
Abia Leadership Academy evolves a fresh mindset as regards youth development and empowerment because graduates from this novel institution are trained to hold the ground anywhere and produce relevant solutions to the ever compounding human challenges.
The land is indeed green and things are looking better in Abia. Many from far and near have testified to the transformative touch of Dr. Alex Otti across sectors now reaching Abia youths through the Abia Leadership Academy.
Abia continues to march on to the promised Land inspired and guided by the transformative and enigmatic Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.
Elvis Chukwu is Public Affairs Commentator.