Otti has Shown that Leadership Makes the Difference — Uba, as Uwanna, Egbuna Drive Youth From Aspiration to Action

The 2026 Abia State Leadership Academy Youth Leadership Bootcamp has challenged young people to take ownership of their future, turn their dreams into practical goals and develop the character needed to lead effectively.

The message was reinforced during leadership sessions by Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna including Chief Executive Officer, Strategy House Limited, Dr Maxwell Uba and facilitator from the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Uchendu Egbuna.

  In their separate sessions, on Monday at Government College Umuahia during Leadership Breakfast Series, encouraged the participants to see leadership as a responsibility that begins with personal choices and everyday actions.

Dr. Uba used the leadership of Governor Alex Otti as a practical example of how vision, knowledge and purposeful leadership can change the fortunes of a society.

He told the youths that Africa and Abia State were blessed with abundant resources, but that resources alone could not guarantee development.

“Resources minus leadership is equal to waste,” he said.

Speaking about Abia, Dr. Uba asked the participants why Governor Otti had been able to achieve significant results within about three years compared with what he described as limited progress under previous administrations over a longer period.

“What our current Governor, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, has shown us is that leadership is not difficult,” he said.

According to him, qualities such as knowledge, vision, integrity, discipline, accountability, empathy and delayed gratification have contributed to Governor Otti’s leadership approach.

He noted that these qualities were not developed after the governor assumed office, but were built over time.

Dr. Uba also pointed to Otti’s persistence in pursuing his political ambition despite setbacks, describing it as an important lesson for young people who may face disappointments while pursuing their own goals.

He stressed that leadership should not be confused with position or title.

“Leadership is not positional. The fact that you have a title doesn’t make you a leader,” he said.

According to him, knowledge does more than provide information; it gives people the confidence to confront challenges.

“There’s something about knowledge that gives you confidence. Knowledge makes you look at challenges and tell yourself, ‘I’m going to deal with it,’” he said.

He also reminded the youths that time wasted today is part of the future being lost.

“If I waste today, what I am actually wasting is a portion of my future,” Uba said.

During his session, Uwanna told the youths that their future would largely be shaped by the decisions they make today, rather than by luck or circumstances.

Quoting William Jennings Bryan, he said, “Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice.”

Uwanna encouraged the youths to have a clear picture of what they want to become and work consistently towards it, rather than allowing fear, criticism or other people’s opinions to limit their ambitions.

“The foundation block for you to create your destiny is your choice. There’s no miracle, there’s no luck; it is your choice.”

“If you can see the invisible, you can do the impossible,” he said.

The message prompted several participants to share their dreams, with some aspiring to become doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, architects, lecturers, radiographers and professional athletes.

But he reminded them that having a dream was only the starting point.

Uwanna challenged them to turn their aspirations into specific goals and back those goals with determination, persistence and action.

Earlier, Egbuna during his session lay focus on the everyday behaviours that reveal whether a person is truly developing as a leader.

He observed that some participants without formal positions were already leading within their groups because they listened to others, respected different opinions and ensured that everyone had an opportunity to speak.

“Leadership is not a one-day thing. It is your character,” Egbuna said.

He urged the youths to be conscious of how they treat people, stressing that leadership is also reflected in attitudes, expressions and the ability to remain fair and respectful under pressure.

“When you defend your values under pressure, you build moral resilience,” he said.

Egbuna also challenged the participants to turn their visions into achievable goals using the SMART principle — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.

He explained that a vision represents where an individual wants to go in the long term, while goals are the practical steps required to get there.

“Your vision is not enough. You must use the SMART principle to set your goals and achieve them,” Egbuna concluded.

President of Abia State Leadership Academy, Prof Kenneth Kalu and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication Mr Dodoh Okafor were present during the Leadership Breakfast Series.