Rethinking Nigeria’s Path to Prosperity Beyond Crude: Gov. Otti’s perspective
By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu
In the warm morning of Friday, December… (Put d exact date) crisp scholars, students and guests gathered inside the serene Prof. C. O. E. Onwuliri Conference Hall at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri for the 37th Convocation Lecture of the institution. This year, the anticipation in the air was different. The audience was not simply waiting for another ceremonial address. They were expecting a conversation about the future of Nigeria and what it would take to build a country that truly serves its people.
The guest lecturer, Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State approached the podium with calm assurance. His lecture, entitled “Economic Development and Sustainability Beyond Oil Exploring Alternative Revenue Potential for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Nigeria”, was both a reflection and warning. It was also a call to action.
Before turning to the heart of the matter, Gov. Otti paused to acknowledge FUTO in a deeply personal way. He recalled the events of 2023 and the role the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nnenna Oti, played during the tense Abia State election collation. Her refusal to bow to pressure, he said, was a lesson in integrity that should inspire generations.
He said that some had argued that the Vice Chancellor only did her job but he challenged this view. He queried, “How often do we do our own jobs with such patriotic zeal?” In thanking FUTO, he urged the institution to continue nurturing men and women who are guided by truth and moral courage.
Gov. Otti then turned to the question at the center of Nigeria’s economic narrative. He asked, “How can a country so richly blessed with people and natural endowments struggle so persistently to create prosperity for its citizens?”
With a population bursting with creativity and energy and mineral deposits that many nations can only envy Nigeria is theoretically positioned for greatness. Yet reality tells a different tale.
He pointed to the experiences of countries like China, India, Venezuela and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Large populations and rich mineral deposits did not automatically lift them out of poverty. What mattered was not the presence of resources but the presence of systems institutions and consistent development strategies.
The governor described the country’s situation as the paradox of plenty. A nation rich in oil, yet poor in outcomes. A nation full of brilliant minds, yet short on coordinated progress.
Drawing from decades of scholarships, he reminded the audience that development is not a vague idea. It is not simply about roads, bridges, and impressive physical structures. It is about people and their live realities.
He quoted the views of scholars like Seer Sen Todaro and Smith, who argue that development must be measured by the quality of life of the population. It is reflected in the ability of a citizen to find a decent job, access education, live a healthy life, escape poverty, and enjoy personal freedom.
He said that institutions, like the World Bank and the United Nations, have broadened the definition of development to include environmental responsibility, gender equality, and the protection of future generations. This shift recognises that development must be sustainable and must consider long term wellbeing.
Gov. Otti then referred to the Human Development Index (HDI) adopted by the United Nations in the year 1990. By measuring health, education, and income, the HDI offers a clearer picture of how well a country is doing beyond the traditional lens of economic growth.
By this measure, he says, Nigeria still falls short. Millions face multidimensional poverty, basic services are unevenly distributed, and social mobility remains difficult for many. But he argued that the purpose of those indices is not to shame nations but guide them.
They show us where the gaps are and where we must focus our energy.
Although, Nigeria has recorded progress since independence, Gov. Otti argued that the country had not achieved what its potential promised. He said that one of the major reasons is overdependence on crude, a resource that has proven unreliable in an era of global energy transition, market volatility, and declining future demand.
He stressed that economic growth built on extractive resources alone is fragile and unsustainable. He insisted that “to build a resilient future, Nigeria must widen its economic base and invest in diverse sectors that can create jobs, stimulate innovation and generate wealth.
He highlighted some sectors capable of redefining the nations economy. He said, “Agriculture, enhanced with modern technology, solid minerals with transparent management, manufacturing driven by local content, creative industries with global appeal, and digital services, powered by an educated youth population. Clean and renewable energy also holds growing promise as the world shifts to smarter climate conscious solutions.”
Throughout his lecture, Gov. Otti returned to a central idea: “Development is a deliberate process”. It is shaped by decisions, policy institutions, and collective commitment.
It demands honesty about our challenges and responsibility for our choices. Too often, he said, “Nigerians seek someone else to blame for the country’s shortcomings. But real development requires each citizen to play a part in building and safeguarding national values”.
He emphasised that for Nigeria to move forward, it must embrace merit, build strong institutions, invest in human capital, and pursue economic diversification with discipline and clarity.
Concluding his lecture, Gov. Otti reminded the audience that development is not measured by promises but outcomes. “It is about the food on the table, the security of communities, the quality of schools, the reliability of healthcare, and the dignity that comes with meaningful work.
He said that the oil wells may one day run dry but human potential does not. “With the right investments, policies, and values, Nigeria can rise to the height its founders envisioned,” he said.
The lecture ended, not with applause alone but with reflection. It was a challenge to a nation at a crossroads to choose discipline over drift, structure over luck, and sustainability over short term gain.
And more importantly, to look beyond oil and imagine a Nigeria powered by the creativity resilience and courage of its people.
#GovOttiIsBuildingTheNewAbia
To God Be The Glory
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu is a journalist and public affairs analyst writing from Umuahia.