A new pedestal: Raising leaders to sustain the Abia transformation agenda
By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu
A popular Japanese maxim says, “Yo shinai, Yo kangai”, which translates to “Good thinking, Good product.”
The maxim suggests that the quality of thoughts dominating an individual’s mind determines the quality of their output when faced with any task. What occupies the mind, however, depends on the kind of information received from one’s immediate environment and interactions with the outside world.
Man, as a product of his environment, inevitably feeds on the dominant traits of his society, its language, beliefs, religion, and culture. Human society is structured in a hierarchical order, meaning that at every level there must be someone saddled with the responsibility of providing leadership.
In the modern world, enormous powers are entrusted to leaders in various positions of authority to act on behalf of others. The global recognition of constituted authorities and governments has further vested the control of human and natural resources in political leaders.
Consequently, the level of advancement of any modern nation-state depends largely on how effectively its leaders are able to direct it.
This understanding informed the decision by the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, to introduce the Abia Leadership Academy, with the aim of preparing young Abians for future leadership roles.
He believes that excellence in leadership, like in every worthy endeavour, is a product of deliberate and effective preparation. The ability to consistently make the right decisions amid competing demands and contrasting opinions cannot happen by accident.
According to Gov. Otti, societies and institutions fail or succeed on the strength of the investments they make in leadership development.
“While there can be several explanations for the developmental struggles of many societies across the world, one constant fixture in most underdeveloped communities is the quality of leadership.”
Speaking during the graduation and send-off ceremony of the pioneer class of the Abia Leadership Academy Cohort One, who successfully completed a seven-day intensive leadership training, organised for young Abians – aged between 16 and 20 at Government College, Umuahia, Gov. Otti reiterated his administration’s commitment to training the youth.
In his speech entitled, “A New Pedestal,” the governor emphasised that he is intentional about cultivating the leadership mindset of young people in order to build future leaders, who will uphold and promote the ideals of good governance in Nigeria and beyond.”
He said that getting it right with the younger generation is critical, otherwise the state’s broader development efforts would be jeopardised.
“The Abia Leadership Academy has been set up to begin the process of returning us to the ideals and values that made us distinct as a people in the wider human community.
“We are particular about developing the leadership attitude of our young ones, guiding them to think broadly and deeply, and to understand the values of empathy and good neighbourliness.
We have consciously redirected the psyche and mental energy of our young people towards the values and standards that once defined our communities,” Gov. Otti said.
He expressed satisfaction with the participants’ performance, discipline, and enthusiasm. He congratulated them on their achievements, encouraged them to remain humble, and urged them not to flaunt arrogance but elevate their vision.
The Chairman of the state Civil Service Commission and member of the academy’s organising committee, Pastor Eno Jerry-Eze, described the programme as historic, saying that Abia is raising a critical mass of young leaders who believe that change is possible.
“This moment is indeed epochal because we are not just producing graduates, we are raising a generation of young leaders equipped to drive transformation.
“We envision a future where the top 10 per cent of professionals in any industry across the globe will proudly trace their roots to the Abia Leadership Academy. Knowledge is the bedrock of development, but it must be married with sound character, loyalty, ethics, and integrity.
“Through this academy, we have created a hub for young people who, beyond conventional education, are being equipped with future-proof skills and a solution-driven curriculum to make them leaders of thought, policy, and innovation,” Jerry-Eze said.
The Lead Consultant and Programme Director, Mr Johnson Abali, while highlighting the programme’s content, thanked the governor for his bold move to plant leadership skills in young people, describing the initiative as a lasting investment.
He explained that participants were divided into five groups to deepen their learning experience. “They have been immersed in leadership lessons, exposed to critical thinking frameworks, and challenged to imagine Abia in 2045,” Abali said.
Some participants including Clinton Salvation, Divine Okezie, and Oluomachi Favour Otum, shared personal transformational stories. They thanked the governor for the opportunity and described the seven-day training as a life-changing experience. They said the lessons learned had sharpened their thinking, boosted their confidence, and inspired them to contribute meaningfully to the future of Abia and Nigeria. They pledged not to disappoint the governor or the people of the state.
Meanwhile, plans are underway for the next phase of the project, during which 1,000 participants would be deployed to secondary and tertiary institutions to share their experiences and knowledge. The target is to train thousands of young people over the next few years.
The transformation being witnessed under Gov. Otti’s leadership is possible because he came into office with a different mindset about governance. The Abia Leadership Academy, therefore, serves as a strong, indispensable pedestal for institutionalising good governance.
As Gov. Otti noted during the second anniversary of his administration, “When a people have tasted good governance, it becomes difficult to return to the old days of maladministration.”
Abia State cannot afford to return to those days when it was the subject of ridicule as the dirtiest state, dotted with failed roads, lacking potable water, and burdened with unpaid salaries and pensions, signs of poor leadership.
The only way to sustain the state’s progress is to raise a new generation of patriotic youths who will place the interest of the state above personal ambition, when entrusted with political power.
#Gov. Otti is building the New Abia!
#To God be the glory!
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, journalist and public affairs analyst, writes from Umuahia