Priscilla C Otti

The 2027 Labour Party Campaign Flag-Off/Interdenominational Church Service in Abia State marked another significant chapter in our political history, as His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, who is seeking re-election for a second term in next year's general elections, led other candidates of the party at the event. In the last 41 months, the transformation under this administration has been evident across every sector, from infrastructure and institutional reforms to people-centred policies that are restoring hope. In his address, the Governor stated that with a fresh mandate in the February 6, 2027 governorship election, his administration will set Abia on the path of irreversible progress through bold leadership, investment in critical assets and multi-level partnerships for prosperity. In 2023, Abians voted on the strength of promises. In 2027, they will vote on tangible results. By God's grace, I am confident the Governor will be re-elected to consolidate his service to Abia and continue improving the lives of women, children and the vulnerable in our dear state.

I joined the Women’s Wing of Nzuko Arochukwu Worldwide at their 31st General Assembly and Mass Rally, themed “Arochukwu Women: Empowered Through Culture, Tourism and Investment.” The theme is timely and strategic, as the Abia State Government, led by His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has commissioned the new Omenuko Bridge and the 30-kilometre Ndi Okereke Abam-Okobo-Amuvi Arochukwu Road, projects that link farmers to markets and open up Arochukwu, a land of enormous tourism potential, to visitors and investors. I commended the women for their unity, for preserving our culture, and for hosting this gathering again since 2023. I specially appreciate His Eminence, Dr. Eberechukwu Oji, Eze Aro IX of Arochukwu Kingdom, for his steadfast leadership and commitment to women and to the development of Arochukwu. I thanked our sisters in the diaspora for their support and urged them to deepen their partnership, and encouraged all the women to sustain development priorities, invest in one another, and expand their impact. I donated bags of rice, wrappers, and Five Million Naira, and assured them of my commitment to equipping their new skill acquisition centre as earlier pledged. I will continue to support Abia women. They are not just citizens, they are partners and co-architects of our collective progress.

The wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Chidera Emetu, represented me at the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, organized by my office and the Ministry of Women Affairs. Our message is simple: every girl deserves time to grow, the freedom to learn, and the right to shape her own future. In Abia, we are protecting that right. We will never surrender our daughters to child marriage, nor abandon them to traffickers. Working with the Abia State Task Force on Human Trafficking and other stakeholders, we will keep standing with our girls and investing in them, because the future of Abia depends on them.

Yesterday, I had the honour of flagging off the 3-Day Training Programme on Sustainable Waste Management in Abia State, organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, across the three senatorial districts. In my remarks, I noted that we must see waste management not just as sanitation, but as an opportunity for innovation, enterprise, and sustainable development. With the right knowledge, waste can become wealth. I urged the organizers to go beyond theory and equip participants with practical skills and clear guidance on opportunities within the waste management value chain. I commend the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Professor Ijeoma Iheukwumere, for this thoughtful initiative focused on equipping women and young people to become active stakeholders in environmental protection.

Abia's young talents shone brightly at the grand finale of The Rising Gem Talent Discovery Show held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. Spearheaded by the Safe Tent Care Initiative, this platform for vocalists, dancers, poets and performing artists aged 10 to 25 was rooted in one vision: to identify, showcase and nurture the immense talent of our children, while opening doors of opportunity for them. From auditions across the three senatorial zones, 13 finalists emerged. Beyond the competition, it was a demonstration of our commitment to humanity and a call for partnership, as guests, corporate organisations and well-wishers generously contributed to STCI to strengthen our work and impact. After a keenly contested display of talent, Malachy Chinemerem Gideon emerged winner with a prize of N5,000,000. Godswill Rachel clinched the first runner-up position with N2,000,000, while Jane Kingsley Ota, the second runner-up, won N1,000,000. All other finalists received N500,000 each. Congratulations to all our winners! I sincerely appreciate Mr. Martins Okey Justice (J. Martins), Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism and Entertainment, and the entire organising team, and the Chairman of the occasion, Chief James Chijioke Umeh (Ike Abam), Founder of Unubiko Foundation, and all donors who generously supported STCI. I am especially grateful to my dear husband, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, for his immeasurable support. I am truly delighted that we have invested in the lives of these young ones. We will do even more. The young people of Abia are incredibly gifted, and we cannot afford to watch without acting.

Abia's rural women are not on the margins of our economy. They are at its centre. They grow much of the food on our tables, sustain our markets, and hold our communities together. Any serious plan for Abia's future has to start with them. That is why this year's Farmers Support Programme reached over 18,000 farmers across all 17 LGAs with improved inputs, backed by fertilizer support and economic empowerment for women in agriculture. It is also why we keep investing in rural roads, primary healthcare and security. Each of these makes farming more productive and rural life more secure. This year's theme, "Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature," recognises something we must not overlook: these women are not only feeding us, they are protecting the land for the next generation. Abia joins the global call for rural women to have equal access to land, finance and technology, and a real voice in the decisions that affect them. Recognition is a start. Rights, resources and opportunity are the goal. Happy International Day of Rural Women.

We have equipped 1,000 top-performing pupils from 50 public schools, mostly in rural communities, with essential school supplies for the new academic session. This is the 2nd edition of our annual Back-to-School Programme themed “Raising the Standards, Rewarding Excellence.” Our hope is to grow this programme to reach more than 2,000 pupils, with special focus on rural areas. I appreciate the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), led by its Chairman, Mrs. Ezihe Lydia Onuoha, for partnering with Safe Tent Care Initiative. I encouraged our children to study hard, stay disciplined and dream boldly, while commending our teachers and parents for their commitment. We also celebrated our brilliant public school students who made Abia and Nigeria proud by emerging victorious at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar. Every investment in our children is an investment in a stronger Abia.

Today is World Mental Health Day. One in four Nigerians, about 50 million people live with a mental health condition. Fewer than one in ten can reach the care they need. Behind these numbers are people carrying more than anyone can see. The grief of losing someone they loved. The weight of poverty, of hunger and of work that never comes. The pain of violence at home: one in three Nigerian women has suffered physical violence. The escape into drugs, which 14 million Nigerians used last year, and which can deepen the very pain it was meant to numb. These are among the leading roads to mental illness, and none of them is a sign of weakness. We refuse to look away. A person in grief deserves comfort. A survivor deserves safety and to be believed. A person fighting addiction deserves treatment, not condemnation. To everyone suffering quietly: you are not a burden, and you are not alone. To the rest of us: ask someone how they are really doing, and listen without judgment. Healing is possible, and you do not have to find the way alone. In an emergency, go to the nearest hospital or call the Abia State Emergency Service: 08133556900 For support or a referral, especially after gender-based violence: Safe Tent Care Initiative (STCI) Care Line: 0700-700-SAFE (0700-700-7233) Let us build the services, the safe spaces and the opportunities that make healing possible for all.

For 60 years, the world has spoken with one voice to honour and elevate teaching. This year’s theme, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing Its Status and Shaping Our Futures,” reminds us that no nation can rise above the quality of its teachers. To our teachers in Abia State: thank you for shaping minds, building character, and staying committed even when the recognition was not enough. I am proud that, between last year and this year, the state government has recruited over 9,000 teachers, a bold statement that in Abia, teachers matter and the future of our children matters. We see you. We honour you. And we remain firmly committed to your welfare, your dignity, and your professional growth. Happy World Teachers’ Day!

Behind every breast cancer diagnosis is a woman whose life, dreams and future are worth fighting for. My continued advocacy against breast cancer is rooted in a conviction that must never be lost: early detection can save lives, and no woman should have to face this journey without care, support and hope. This October, let us speak more openly, act more decisively and stand more firmly with those affected. Let us ensure that awareness reaches beyond our words into our homes, communities and healthcare systems. To every woman confronting breast cancer, you are more than your diagnosis. May no woman's story be overlooked, no cry for help go unanswered, and no journey be faced alone.

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria! 🇳🇬 Sixty-six years on, we celebrate a nation built on resilience, hope, and the strength of its people. To the women holding families together, the young people building tomorrow, and everyone in Abia and across Nigeria who keeps believing, thank you. Independence is more than a date. It is a daily choice to serve, to care for one another, and to leave this country better than we found it. In Abia, that spirit shows up in our markets, our classrooms, our workshops, and our homes. May this day renew our faith in what we can achieve together. God bless Abia State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. #NigeriaAt66 #IndependenceDay #October1st #GodsOwnState #Abia

On September 26 in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, I delivered the keynote at Made in Abia at UNGA, a celebration of Akwete. In "Akwete: The Thread That Must Not Break," I spoke about protecting the knowledge our women have carried for generations, using technology to serve Akwete rather than copy it, and building standards and certification so authentic Akwete is trusted worldwide. Together with Aba's manufacturing strength, it can reach global markets. The fashion showcase, the Akwete documentary, our panels and the Abia State Investment Deal Room carried that conversation forward. I was delighted to welcome my dear sisters, H.E. Amb. Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors Spouses' Forum, and H.E. Chief Mrs. Titilola Adeleke, First Lady of Osun State. My husband, H.E. Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, was represented by The Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer, Mr Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu. Special thanks to our partners, BHLA, and its Founder, Eziada Folasade Balogun, for putting it all together, and to 234Finance and everyone who made it a success. Akwete: the thread that must not break. #MadeInAbia #Akwete #UNGA2026

I have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Directorate of Employment. This marks a strategic partnership between the NDE and my NGO, Safe Tent Care Initiative, for the second cohort of the Skill-Up Abia Women Programme. At STCI, skill acquisition for women remains one of our core pillars. We believe empowerment must be practical. In the coming weeks, 200 women drawn from all 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State will begin a 3-month training to learn, build, earn, and become self-reliant. I sincerely appreciate the NDE for believing in this vision and bringing its wealth of institutional expertise to bear on this partnership. I look forward to the day when these 200 women become 200 stories of transformation, multiplied across families, communities, and generations.

The true measure of a society is not how high its strongest can rise, but how compassionately it reaches for those facing the greatest barriers, and how steadfastly it stands beside them until they rise too. Guided by this belief, the Safe Tent Care Initiative recently supported over 400 Persons with Disabilities with essential food items and cash assistance totaling 20 million naira. This was a modest intervention in response to the pressure created by current economic realities. Our commitment continues. We will sustain regular food outreaches to vulnerable communities, including PWDs, and we will deliberately expand their inclusion in our empowerment programmes, especially skill acquisition. Since 2023, I have engaged directly with the PWD community. I have listened to their concerns, supported their initiatives, and worked to provide practical solutions to their needs. The work of inclusion is never finished. Therefore, we will keep listening, advocating, and supporting.

On Wednesday, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and National Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, presented empowerment items to 500 women in each South East state, including Abia. The main event was held in Imo State. The programme was implemented by RHI in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals. In Abia State, our women received deep-chest freezers, maxi-gas cookers with ovens, generators, and industrial grinding machines to support the start of new businesses and the expansion of existing ones. The event ran concurrently with the main event in Imo. In my absence as the RHI Coordinator for Abia State, I was represented by Mrs. Eucharia Meregini, wife of the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly. I sincerely appreciate Senator Tinubu for this visionary initiative, and Her Excellency, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, OFR, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, for championing this programme and recognizing the vital role of women in nation-building. I am confident our women will put these tools to judicious use to grow their businesses and improve the lives of their families.

On this International Day of Charity, we are reminded that the true measure of leadership is found in our compassion for those whose voices are often unheard. Charity stands as one of the major pillars of my office and the Safe Tent Care Initiative. We have walked with the vulnerable, extending support in finance, food, and essential supplies. From orphanage homes to correctional facilities, from hospital wards to communities bearing the weight of hardship, our presence has remained constant because dignity must be constant. We are not stopping. The need is real, and so is our resolve. Today, I invite every Abian and every person of goodwill to give. Not just from your abundance, but from your heart. Let us build an Abia where no one is forgotten, and where kindness becomes our legacy.

Yesterday, I joined the family of Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, at House on the Rock Church, Umuahia, for the dedication of their son, Powell Chinweuba Ekeoma. We thanked God for the precious gift of this child, and most especially for His faithfulness in granting both mother and child safe delivery. In my charge to Mr. and Mrs. Ekeoma, I admonished them to train up the child in the right way, that he may not depart from it when he is older, as recorded in Proverbs 22:6. I congratulate the family and pray that Powell’s life will bring glory to God, joy to his home, and meaningful impact to our society.

Congratulations to Innocent Oborevwori and Uvietobore Arigbodi on their beautiful union. I had the pleasure of attending their wedding at the Dome Event Centre, Asaba, Delta State. Innocent, the groom, is the son of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State, while Uvietobore, the bride, is the daughter of Chief Brodericks Arigbodi, the Olukun of Agbor Kingdom. The ceremony was well attended by dignitaries, including several state governors. It was a delight to stand alongside my fellow First Ladies in solidarity with our sister and the mother of the groom, Her Excellency, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, First Lady of Delta State.

The grand finale of the 2026 Abia Women August Delegate Conference themed “Abia Women: Empowered to Thrive” was a resounding success. It was a celebration of the strength, enterprise, resilience and immense potential of Abia women. This marks the 4th edition of the conference since 2023, and each year keeps getting better. The highlight of the event was the empowerment of women in business through the Thrive Business Challenge. The initiative was designed not only to reward excellence but to encourage women to build structured, viable and sustainable enterprises. Thirty women were selected for the challenge and ten advanced to the final stage. Ane-pop Limited emerged winner with ₦2,000,000 and a Sienna car. Dpocket Friendly Business Hub Limited, first runner-up, received ₦1,500,000 and an industrial sewing machine. Extra Ezy Poultry Farm, second runner-up, received ₦1,000,000 and equipment. The remaining seven finalists each received ₦500,000. Participants who did not reach the final stage also received ₦50,000 each in support. I sincerely appreciate my husband, the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, for his firm support for Abia women and for gracing the event with his presence. My appreciation also extends to the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, the Ministry of Industry and SMEs, the AWADEC Planning Committee, the wives of our Mayors, our sponsors and partners including Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC and Nigerian Breweries, and to every individual and institution that supported us. Our work is far from over. There are more women to reach, more businesses to grow, more girls to inspire, more farmers to support and more vulnerable women to uplift.