From Mark Chukwu, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, has inaugurated the chairmen and members of six key boards and agencies, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening governance, accountability, and efficient public service delivery across the state.
The inauguration ceremony, held last Thursday at the iconic Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, brought together newly appointed officials tasked with steering critical sectors of the state economy, including health, education, infrastructure, investment, and public services.
Governor Otti expressed strong confidence in the capacity of the appointees, noting that their selection was based strictly on merit and proven professional competence. He charged them to remain committed to accountability and to support the administration’s broader development agenda.
The newly inaugurated boards include the Governing Council of the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Promotion Office, the Rural Access Roads Agency, the State Roads Fund, the Abia State Lottery Board, the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) Management Board, and the Abia State Library Board.
According to the governor, the establishment of these boards represents a strategic effort to deepen institutional leadership and enhance governance structures across key sectors of the state economy. He explained that the initiative aligns with his administration’s medium- and long-term development and sustainability objectives.
Speaking further, Governor Otti emphasized that the exercise goes beyond formal inauguration, describing it as a deliberate move to strengthen institutional efficiency, deepen accountability, and improve service delivery across government agencies.
He also reiterated the importance of clear role definition, warning against interference in the daily operations of ministries, departments, and agencies. According to him, board members are expected to focus on policy direction, oversight, and strategic guidance, while management teams handle day-to-day administration.
“There should be no room for conflict or misunderstanding that could distract from your responsibilities,” the governor cautioned, stressing the need for synergy between boards and management teams.
He urged the appointees to deploy their expertise in advancing the state’s development goals, expressing optimism that their contributions would significantly improve governance outcomes.
Governor Otti also called on management teams across MDAs to cooperate fully with the new boards, assuring that adequate welfare and institutional support had been put in place to enable effective performance. He further commended the State House of Assembly for its legislative backing in establishing some of the agencies.
He disclosed that more boards and agencies would be inaugurated upon the completion of ongoing legislative processes.
In her response on behalf of the appointees, the Chairman of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Management Board, Dr. (Mrs.) Ezinne Benjamin Kalu, expressed gratitude to the governor for the trust placed in them. She pledged that the boards would fully support the administration’s reform-driven agenda.
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Dr. Kalu noted that the appointments reflect the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and improving institutional performance across sectors. She assured that the boards would work collaboratively with stakeholders to enhance service delivery and reposition government institutions for greater efficiency.
