Otti Pledges to Develop Young Abians as Future Leaders as Leadership Academy Bootcamp Opens in Umuahia 

Abia State Governor Alex Otti, has reaffirms his commitment to developing a new generation of ethical, competent and innovative young Abians as future leaders of the State and nation.

Otti stated this while declaring open the 2026 Cohort 1 of Abia State Leadership Academy Youth Leadership Bootcamp held at Government College, Umuahia.

He described the Academy as not a routine training centre but a strategic institution built to instil ethics, values, and practical leadership skills into the young people.

“Through the Abia State Leadership Academy, we are investing in the character, competence and leadership capacity of the next generation,” Otti said.

He urged the participants to ‘learn with humility, participate actively, build meaningful relationships and, most importantly, use what you learn to positively influence your schools, communities and State.’

The Governor said the initiative was a deliberate investment in the human capital of the State, stressing that the impact of government should not be measured only by physical infrastructure.

“Governments are often judged by the roads they build, the schools they construct and the hospitals they equip. But one of the greatest investments any government can make is in its people. Through the Abia State Leadership Academy, our dear Governor is investing in the character, competence and leadership capacity of the next generation,” he said.

He congratulated the participants and urged them to approach the bootcamp with humility, discipline and an open mind, encouraging them to use the knowledge and networks acquired to positively influence their schools, communities and the State.

In a goodwill message, the Director of Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Nneka Okekearu, described the partnership with the Abia State Leadership Academy as a shared commitment to investing in young people.

The Director, represented by Dr. Uche Egbulam identified four key pillars of the bootcamp as Leadership and Service, Enterprise, Impact, and Innovation and Futures, stressing that leadership was about responsibility, integrity, courage and service rather than titles or authority.

He encouraged the participants to challenge assumptions, ask difficult questions, build meaningful relationships and remain committed to lifelong learning.

He commended the Abia State Government for making youth development a strategic priority and expressed the EDC’s commitment to supporting initiatives that develop ethical leaders, resilient entrepreneurs and transformational institutions.

Responding on behalf of the participants, Destiny Obiora and Ogbonna Treasure expressed appreciation to Governor Otti, the Enterprise Development Centre and the leadership of the Academy for creating an opportunity for Abia youths to become transformational leaders, innovators and changemakers.

According to them, the bootcamp had already begun exposing participants to important leadership values, including integrity, discipline, empathy, innovation, problem-solving and civic responsibility.

They pledged that the participants would apply the lessons acquired to become responsible leaders capable of making positive contributions to Abia State, Nigeria and the wider world.

In his vote of thanks, the President of the Abia State Leadership Academy and immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, congratulated the participants on their successful selection, describing them as colleagues in the collective task of building a better society.

Prof. Kalu disclosed that the Academy received 7,052 applications for the 2026 bootcamp, but selected 1,000 applicants following a rigorous selection process involving screening, NIN verification, interviews and Computer-Based Testing (CBT).

He urged the participants to understand that the real measure of the Academy would not be what happened during the bootcamp but what they would do with the knowledge, values and relationships acquired after leaving the programme.

He challenged the participants to “think, reflect and become,” stressing that personal transformation and positive impact in society would ultimately determine whether the investment in the Academy achieved its purpose.

The 2026 bootcamp is being implemented in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University, with the Centre co-facilitating the programme alongside faculty members of the Abia State Leadership Academy.