Gov. Otti Advocates Deliberate Training of young people to Create Employment

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called for deliberate training of young people in the insurance profession as a pathway to developing future professionals and expanding employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.

Governor Otti made the call on Monday, January 20, while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), led by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe, in his office. He stressed that professionalism is built on structured training, noting that his administration places premium importance on youth development through initiatives such as the Abia Leadership Training Initiative, the Abia Leadership Academy, and the TechRise Programme, which have trained over a thousand young people.

Commending the role of the NCRIB in strengthening confidence in the insurance sector, Governor Otti said the emergence of the Council helped to address longstanding trust issues between insurance companies and their clients by acting as a credible intermediary. He described the presentation by the NCRIB President as thoughtful and innovative, assuring that the state government would critically examine the proposals. To this end, he directed the Special Adviser on Internally Generated Revenue, Dr. Emmanuel Okpechi, the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor, and his Technical Assistant, Mr. Charles Egonye, to engage the Council and work out modalities for possible partnership.

The Governor congratulated Mrs. Ezeibe on her emergence as President of the NCRIB, describing her election as a reflection of competence and capacity. He expressed confidence in her leadership, assuring that the Abia State Government would support the hosting of the NCRIB 2026 CEOs’ Retreat in Umuahia. He reiterated that his administration is open to collaborations that deliver measurable value, particularly to citizens and policyholders.

Earlier, the NCRIB President, Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe, highlighted the critical role of insurance in driving sustainable economic development and business continuity. She commended Governor Otti for the visible transformation across Abia State, particularly in Aba, noting the rehabilitation of markets and reconstruction of roads after years of infrastructural decay. She described the Governor’s impact as deliberate and far-reaching, adding that sustainability remains key to long-term development. Mrs. Ezeibe outlined proposed areas of collaboration with the state, citing benefits such as job creation, investment protection, stability, access to healthcare, and value creation, while also appreciating the Governor’s support during her investiture as the 23rd President of the Council.

The Acting Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Mereibeole; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D; Special Adviser on IGR, Dr. Emmanuel Okpechi; and Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor, were among top government officials present at the meeting.