Governor Otti Celebrates Living Word Ministries @40, Reiterates Commitment To Free, Compulsory Education For Abia Children

By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu On Dec 8, 2025

…Attends Okoye’s 50th Wedding Anniversary

The Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has once again reiterated his commitment to providing quality, free, and compulsory education for Abia Children.

Governor Otti, who spoke on Sunday, December 7th, as a special guest of honour at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Living Word Ministries Int’l and their 2025 Convention with the theme, “The Labourers Are Few,” said that without education, he would not be where he is today.

The Governor began his speech by congratulating the Church for clocking 40, which he described as an important milestone. He appreciated the President of Living Word Ministries Int’l, who doubles as the Chancellor of Rhema University, Aba, Bro. Emma Okorie, and his wife for being consistent and resilient and for allowing God to use them.

“They have not only grown the Church, they have also grown the Ministry into education – the Rhema University, the Living Word Schools all over the place. And, these are no mean feats. My prayer is that God will continue to use them…” Governor Otti stated

Speaking further, the State Chief Executive said, “For us in the Abia State Government, that you allowed God to use you to install us, we try every day to ensure that we do not disappoint you, and by the grace of God, I can assure you that this government will not disappoint you.

“I think the most important thing, in my own opinion, that we have done is to make education available to every Abia child by removing that thing called school fees. So, today, every child born in Abia or who lives in Abia goes to school without paying one dime.

“…We are also renovating the schools and equipping them properly. So, the enrollment has more than tripled, requiring so many teachers. On September 1, this year, we recruited and on-boarded 5394 teachers into our schools. By next month, we will add another 4000 to the number.
“You know why we emphasize education; most of us would not have been here if not for proper education. So, what we received we want to give back,” the Governor stated amidst applause.

Before leading the Church into a fervent prayer after cutting the anniversary cake, the leader of the Living Word Ministries Int’l, Bro Emma Okorie, who has consistently been very appreciative of the visible achievements of the Governor Otti’s administration across the State, said, “If you ask me to vote tomorrow, this is the man I will vote for. I’ve always voted for him, as a leader of Living Word Ministries, I don’t follow people easily, this man, God gave me the conviction to follow him, and all of you are following me to follow him.

“Why? I found integrity, there’s nothing immoral I’ve seen him doing, no report of such nonsense, focused, a man with a sense of direction. I don’t know that the State can be organised, very organized. We are on top of Nigeria because of this one man,” Bro Okorie affirmed.

From the Living Word Ministries Int’ ’l, the Abia State Governor and his entourage headed to the St. Ambrose Catholic Parish, Ogbor-Hill, Aba, where he attended the 50th (Golden Jubilee) marriage anniversary of Sir Leonard Ikeotunye Okoye, KSGG (UduAkomiri) and his lovely wife, Lady Alice Nneka Okoye, Laux. He congratulated the family, saying that 50 years is not a joke, acknowledging that they have put in a lot of hard work, patience, and managed their disagreements well, which he said happens sometimes in marriage.

“50 years is a lot, it is not a joke. It is a lesson for some of us who are increasingly getting impatient and going the divorce and the separation way. When you look at UduAkomiri and the wife, then you look again, if you are considering throwing your wife away, and you are here, you think again. If you are considering pushing your husband away and you hear about UduAkomiri, please think again. It’s all about patients, accommodation, love, forgiveness..” Governor Otti admonished.

The Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev’d. Bishop Benson Jonas Okoye, while describing the Okoye’s as a role model for young families, commended Governor Otti for the good works he is doing in the State, saying that roads that were impassable during the times he visited the State in the past are now passable, all done by the Governor. He went on to describe Governor Ott as ‘A BEACON OF HOPE’ to Nigerians at large and worthy of emulation.

Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.