CIBN lauds Otti over GDP growth as gov backs UNDP youth empowerment drive

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has commended Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, for what it described as significant economic progress, including a reported 10 per cent growth in the state’s Gross Domestic Product and an eight per cent reduction in poverty under his administration.

The President and Chairman of Council of the CIBN, Prof. Pius Olarenwaju, gave the commendation on Thursday when he led members of the institute on a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Umuahia.

Olarenwaju said the state had also attracted investments and created over 10,000 jobs within a short period.

“You have achieved, within this short time, notable economic progress, including a 10 per cent GDP increase, an eight per cent poverty reduction in this part of the country, the attraction of significant investments and the creation of over 10,000 jobs.

“We have heard about it in the newspapers, but it is more glorious for us to see it firsthand and go back to tell more people. So, we appreciate you, sir,” he said.

He also lauded improvements in healthcare delivery, reduced mortality rates, the introduction of health insurance, free education policies and enhanced road infrastructure across the state.

The CIBN president further acknowledged the impact of the state’s security initiative, Operation Crush, which he said had boosted investor confidence and economic activities.

Describing Otti as a goodwill ambassador of the institute, Olarenwaju praised his contributions to the banking profession and disclosed plans by the CIBN to honour outstanding former bank chief executives later in the year.

He called for deeper collaboration between the institute and the Abia State Government in areas such as financial literacy, financial inclusion and infrastructural development, revealing that the CIBN is currently implementing a national programme to train 10 million women and youths on financial literacy.

Responding, Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustainable development and welcomed stronger collaboration with the institute.

He disclosed that the state’s free and compulsory education policy had led to over a 100 per cent increase in school enrolment, adding that 5,394 teachers had been recruited, with another 4,000 to be employed.

“The institute’s programme on financial inclusion and financial literacy for members of the public is very important. Even those of us who claim to have knowledge still make mistakes in investment because we do not know enough,” Otti said.

The governor was joined at the meeting by the Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Uwaoma; Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Cliff Agbaeze; and the Accountant-General, Mrs Njum Uma-Onyemenam, among others.

Meanwhile, Otti also pledged the state’s readiness to partner with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0, describing it as aligned with his administration’s youth development agenda.

He gave the assurance when he received a delegation led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Office of the Vice President, Mr Akubo Adegbe, alongside a UNDP team.

The NJFP 2.0 is a Federal Government youth employment initiative coordinated by the Office of the Vice President and implemented by UNDP with funding support from the European Union. The programme provides 12-month paid placements for young graduates across public, private and civil society sectors.

Otti identified the digital economy, creative economy, energy and leadership as priority areas for collaboration.

He cited the state’s TechRise programme, which trained and graduated 510 youths in its first batch and 849 in the second, as well as the Abia Leadership Academy, which has so far graduated about 1,000 young people.

“If you ask me what is the preferred area, I would say digital economy first, and then the creative economy, energy and other areas our people are interested in,” he said.

The governor directed his Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer, Mr Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, to liaise with the delegation to ensure effective collaboration.

UNDP Team Lead, Mr Innocent Ejolu, said the programme aims to deploy 20,000 fellows annually nationwide with improved skills development and job matching.

“With Abia’s co-investment, we can scale from hundreds to nearly thousands of fellows, build a pipeline of future civil servants and entrepreneurs, and unlock private capital for human development,” Ejolu said.

Adegbe stressed the need for state ownership of the programme to ensure sustainability, noting that past national initiatives often failed due to poor alignment with state priorities.

He outlined three key requests from the state: political support, contribution to the basket fund and identification of priority sectors for Abia youths.

The governor was joined at the meeting by the Commissioners for Trade and Commerce, Sports and Youth Development, and other senior officials.