Jonathan, who made the remark at the 1980s Reunion Dinner and Award Ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Alumni Association in Umuahia, praised Otti’s performance, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Represented at the event by Dr. Godknows Igali, Jonathan described Otti as a leader who came into office prepared to make a difference.
Umuahia, Nigeria – Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on public officeholders across Nigeria to take a leaf from the leadership approach of Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, noting that the governor’s deliberate and people-focused governance model is yielding visible transformation in the state.
Jonathan, who made the remark at the 1980s Reunion Dinner and Award Ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Alumni Association in Umuahia, praised Otti’s performance, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Represented at the event by Dr. Godknows Igali, Jonathan described Otti as a leader who came into office prepared to make a difference.
He said: “Governance in Nigeria should take a cue from what Governor Otti is doing in Abia. His intentionality in leadership is evident. In the past, when one mentioned ‘Aba made,’ it was a source of ridicule, but today, people are proudly scrambling for it. That is the kind of positive change we want to see.”
The former president’s remarks followed similar commendations by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who on Friday, April 11, inaugurated the 46.36km Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Alayi–Abiriba Road rehabilitated by the Otti administration. Obasanjo said Otti’s leadership proves that Nigeria’s challenges can be fixed with sincerity and commitment.
During the reunion ceremony themed “Celebrating Excellence and Service to Humanity,” Governor Otti welcomed the UNIPORT alumni and encouraged them to get involved in politics, assuring them that the space offers broader opportunities for societal impact than the corporate sector.
While addressing his guests, the governor disclosed that his administration has committed 35% of its annual budget to health and education—allocating 20% to education and 15% to healthcare. He revealed that over 200 primary healthcare centres and 221 schools are currently undergoing various stages of reconstruction and upgrade across Abia’s 184 wards.
Otti also appreciated the alumni for choosing Umuahia as their meeting point 12 years after their last reunion in Port Harcourt, during the tenure of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi. He suggested that next year’s edition could be hosted in Bayelsa State by Governor Douye Diri, a fellow alumnus of the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended the governor for his visible transformation of Abia and his support for the university. Georgewill specifically mentioned Otti’s role in constructing the Faculty of Social Sciences, while appealing for further interventions from alumni to address the university’s growing accommodation challenges.
Touring some of the ongoing projects spearheaded by the Abia State Government, the alumni expressed admiration for the developmental strides recorded under Otti’s watch in less than two years in office. Many noted that they were proud of his achievements and the face-lift given to the state.
Chairman of the UNIPORT 80s Reunion Steering Committee, Mr. Benjamin Owuapu Willie, said the gathering was birthed out of shared grief following the 2019 death of their late colleague and first-class Economics graduate, Mr. Eze Alomefuna, fondly known as RICO. He said the reunion has since grown into a platform for reflection, networking, and impact.
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