Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has described women as the bedrock of the family and indispensable partners in the socio-economic transformation of the state, pledging that his administration will continue to prioritise their welfare and empowerment.
Otti stated this on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the grand finale of the 2026 Abia Women August Delegates Conference (AWADEC), held at the Aguiyi Ironsi Cenotaph, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia.
The governor, while congratulating Abia women on the successful conclusion of the annual August Meeting activities, urged them to remain focused on their responsibilities, particularly in raising children and shielding them from crime, cultism, bad gangs and other influences capable of destroying their future.
“Women are the bedrock of the family. Anywhere the family is not together, look at the women. And we want to say that we cannot take any woman for granted. In the New Abia, we take women very, very seriously,” Otti said.
He stressed the importance of proper parenting, noting that mothers have a critical role to play in shaping the character and future of their children.
“You must have your eyes on the ball and stay focused. Anywhere the woman is paying attention, the children turn out well,” the governor stated.
Otti also commended his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, for her interventions targeted at vulnerable women, including the provision of housing for 35 vulnerable women and the Safe Tent Care Initiative, which supports women in business.
In her address, Mrs. Otti urged women across the state to take advantage of available opportunities, build sustainable businesses and play a more active role in Abia’s economic development.
She described the 2026 August Meetings held across the 17 local government areas as remarkable, citing economic empowerment initiatives, skills acquisition, support for petty traders and farmers, as well as interventions for widows and vulnerable women.
The First Lady said the provision of a decent home for the mother of a survivor of gender-based violence was particularly significant because it addressed the root causes of vulnerability rather than merely responding to immediate needs.
“If we truly want our women to thrive, we must go beyond responding to immediate needs. We must address some of the root causes of vulnerability and give women the tools, opportunities, protection, and support they need to build more secure lives,” she said.
Mrs. Otti also highlighted the Thrive Business Challenge, saying the initiative was designed to encourage women to establish structured, viable and sustainable businesses rather than merely reward competition winners.
She announced that participants who did not make the final 10 would each receive ₦50,000, while finalists would receive productive assets and business support grants to strengthen their enterprises.
The First Lady commended Governor Otti for creating what she described as an enabling environment for women to prosper, urging them to reciprocate by contributing actively to the development of the state.
“Let us continue to build an Abia where women are not merely beneficiaries of development, but active architects of it,” Mrs. Otti added.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, urged Abia women to use the traditional August Meeting platform to advance economic empowerment, education, healthcare, social protection, community development and leadership.
Aghukwa, who disclosed that the theme of the 2026 AWADEC was “Abia Women Empowered to Thrive,” said the transformation of the state could not be achieved without the full participation of women.
She described women as critical stakeholders in the development of Abia and urged them to move beyond survival towards sustainability. She also commended Otti for his commitment to creating opportunities for women and girls, citing initiatives such as the Nigeria for Women Project.
Delivering the keynote address, titled “Abia Women Empowered to Thrive,” the Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, urged women to embrace opportunities, acquire new skills and take deliberate steps towards personal and economic advancement.
Akanwa stressed that “thriving is not a destination, but a process,” adding that the Otti administration had demonstrated confidence in the capacity of Abia women to contribute meaningfully to the state’s development.
She urged women to take ownership of their lives and responsibilities while promoting peace and stability in their homes and communities.
According to her, women should not wait passively for opportunities but must take deliberate action to improve their circumstances and contribute to society.
She encouraged them not to settle for survival when they possessed the capacity and opportunity to thrive.
The 2026 AWADEC, which featured activities across the state’s 17 local government areas, concluded with calls for greater economic empowerment, family responsibility and increased participation of women in the development of Abia State.
