The Office of the wife of the Governor in collaboration with the Ministry of women affairs, organized a colourful event in Umuahia to commemorate the International Day of the Boy Child.

The celebration brought together government officials, educators, traditional rulers, students, and other stakeholders to advocate for the empowerment, protection, and holistic development of the boy child.

In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, emphasized that while significant attention has rightly been given to the girl child over the years, it is equally important to invest in the boy child to raise productive, responsible, and purpose-driven men.

Government college Umuahia band

She stressed the need to nurture boys who are intelligent, morally upright, and capable of becoming responsible husbands, fathers, and leaders. According to her, true strength lies not in aggression but in character, discipline, and integrity.

Dr. Aghukwa further called for increased opportunities in skills acquisition, mentorship, education, and personal development to enable boys to excel and contribute meaningfully to society.

Representing the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the Wife of the Deputy Governor described the celebration as a landmark initiative that reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive child development.

She noted that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Empowering Boys for a Balanced Future,” is both timely and relevant, considering the numerous challenges confronting young boys today, including negative social influences, substance abuse, and violence.

Addressing the boys, she encouraged them to believe in themselves, dream big, work hard, and never underestimate their potential.
She assured them of the continued commitment of the Governor’s wife to the welfare, protection, education, and holistic development of all children in Abia State, regardless of gender.
She also urged parents, teachers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to raise boys who are confident without violence, strong without cruelty, resourceful without selfishness, and successful without compromising their values.

In his goodwill message, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Sir Kelechukwu Nwosu, stated that training and empowering the boy child is crucial to societal growth and development.

He observed that many social vices, including cybercrime, drug abuse, armed robbery, and other criminal activities, stem from the neglect of the boy child. He stressed the need to provide boys with quality education, moral guidance, and skills development opportunities.

Nwosu also highlighted Governor Dr. Alex Otti’s reforms in the education sector, including the recruitment of 10,000 teachers and the allocation of 20 percent of the state’s budget to education, describing the initiatives as significant investments in the future of Abia children.

Delivering the keynote address on the theme, “Empowering the Boy Child for a Balanced Future,” Pastor Ogbonna Samuel of the Living Word ministries described a boy child as “a male child being raised to become a responsible father.”
He stated that every boy carries seeds of greatness and should never be neglected, warning that continued neglect could have far-reaching consequences for society.

According to him, education remains the most effective tool for empowering boys, helping them understand their rights, responsibilities, and place in society.

Pastor Samuel also highlighted the challenges associated with toxic notions of masculinity, where boys are often told to suppress their emotions and face life’s challenges alone.

He advocated giving equal value and opportunities to both boys and girls, stressing that a balanced society can only be achieved when no child is neglected.

He maintained that proper training and moral upbringing of boys would significantly reduce crime rates, noting that many perpetrators of crimes such as armed robbery, internet fraud, and drug abuse are male youths who lacked proper guidance and support.

The cleric emphasized that the responsibility of raising responsible boys rests on families, schools, religious institutions, and society as a whole.

The event also featured several competitions among participating schools.
In the Spelling Bee Competition, Intellectual Giants Christian Academy emerged winner with six points, while Government College Umuahia finished as runner-up with five points. Other participating schools included Trailblazers Academy and Ndume Otuka Secondary School.

In the Quiz Competition, Mayfair Academy emerged winner with five points, Ibeku High School came second with four points, while Government College Umuahia secured third place with three points.

For the Tongue Twister (Okwu Ntabire) Competition, Amuzukwu Secondary School emerged victorious.

Schools that emerged victorious in the various competitions were presented with a learning pad, a dictionary, and a cash prize of ₦30,000 for their school libraries.

Among dignitaries present at the event were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Ogechi Betty Oguama; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere; wives of mayors from across the state, traditional rulers, political appointees, and other stakeholders.

Highlights of the celebration included cultural dance displays, thrilling Ohafia War Dance performances, and musical renditions by participating schools, all of which entertained guests and added colour to the occasion.

The event concluded with a renewed call on parents, educators, and policymakers to invest in the boy child, recognizing his vital role in building a balanced, peaceful, and prosperous society.

The Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, says he will soon flag-off the construction of the Umuahia Stadium which will be a stadium city.

Governor Otti stated this when he received in audience a delegation led by Abia born international footballer and Super Eagles star, Samuel Chukwueze, who visited the Governor in his office, alongside his friends, to thank him for coming to identify with him during his mothers burial over the weekend.

Governor Otti stated that the land for the construction of the new stadium has already been acquired, and hinted that he would like Abia people to come and invest in the State.

I’m sure before the end of the year, we will flag-off the construction of the new Umuahia stadium.

“The land is already acquired, and we are at the feasibility stage. Because we are not just building a stadium, we are building a stadium city, like a sports village.

“There will be hotels, there will be estates. There will be other attractions just to develop that path. The Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development will also give you details.

“We will like our people to come and invest here. Pick whatever that is of interest to you. You may be interested in one thing or the other, and we will give priority to our people Gov. Otti stated.

The Governor, who congratulated Mr Chukwueze on the feat he has achieved in sports and for being a good ambassador of Abia State, assured him of the support of the State Government to him.

Mr Chukwueze further noted that his recent visit to Umuahia revealed remarkable improvements, particularly in road infrastructure, which he described as a significant departure from what existed in the past. He stated that the changes has made movement easier and enhanced the overall appearance of the State capital.

“I have been seeing the good works the Governor is doing. When I came back and saw Umuahia, it was completely different.

“The roads have improved greatly, and the transformation is visible. He deserves every accolade for the good work he has been doing,” Chukwueze stated.

Speaking on the Governor’s proposed new Umuahia Stadium City project, the international footballer described the initiative as a laudable investment for the future of sports development in the State. He noted that the project would create opportunities for young talents, provide modern sporting facilities, and position Abia as a destination for sports enthusiasts from across the world.

He assured that he would equally invest in sports in the State, emphasising his desire to give back to the community that shaped his career.

“I intend to invest in sports development for the youth, and I am already working on it gradually, step by step. (more…)

The Abia State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare and empowerment of youths who participated in the Agricultural Training Programme in Osun State, dismissing insinuations in some quarters that the beneficiaries have been abandoned.

The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, FCIB, gave the clarification while reacting to reports circulating on social media regarding the status of the trainees.

Dr. Agbaeze stated that the initiative was conceived by the administration of Alex Otti as part of its broader strategy to equip Abia youths with practical Agricultural and entrepreneurial skills capable of promoting food security, self-reliance, job creation, and economic growth.

According to the Commissioner, the State Government is currently putting in place the necessary framework to ensure that the beneficiaries are effectively integrated into the administration’s ongoing agricultural and youth empowerment programmes in a sustainable and impactful manner.

He recalled that in 2024, the State Government trained over 300 Abia youths at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State and subsequently supported them with empowerment packages of up to N2.3 million each to establish agricultural enterprises. He noted that many of the beneficiaries are presently thriving in their various Agricultural ventures.

The Commissioner further disclosed that under the LIFE-ND Programme, the State Government has trained and empowered more than 4,000 youth incubatees across different Agricultural value chains. He added that barely three weeks ago, another batch of 276 youth incubatees graduated and received initial working capital support of about N500,000 each.

Dr. Agbaeze emphasized that the empowerment of the 28 youths trained in Osun remains part of the government’s overall Agricultural development and youth empowerment agenda, stressing that the administration is committed to integrating them into a more structured and sustainable framework rather than handling the initiative in isolation.

He noted that some of the affected trainees had personally reached out to him, either through visits or phone calls, to seek clarification on the matter, adding that they were duly assured that the government has not abandoned them and remains committed to addressing their concerns.

While appealing to the beneficiaries to remain patient as the necessary processes are being concluded, the Commissioner cautioned youths against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of political propaganda by desperate and unscrupulous elements.

Dr. Agbaeze reiterated that the administration of Governor Alex Otti remains resolute in fulfilling its promises to the people of Abia State, particularly in the area of youth empowerment and Agricultural transformation.

Signed:

Oluchi Franklin-Oji
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Agriculture
Abia State