Abia Governor Alex Otti says social prosperity and critical development depend largely on equity, quality of public sector governance, strong leadership and institutional integrity.
Otti said this in a keynote address delivered at the Oxford Global Think Tank (OGTT) conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
He stated that poverty, institutional collapse, and the erosion of sovereign authority stem from weak and dysfunctional leadership.
He noted that development has never been accidental, describing it as the primary function of deliberate planning and dynamic execution.
“Development is driven by the conscious resolve of forward-looking individuals to hold the ladder for others to escape the indignity of poverty and servitude.
“The principal role of the elite is to guide the rhythm of events by minimising discontent and stimulating economic opportunities.
“Those who enjoy the privilege of public trust must be attentive to the lessons of history and the associated dangers of indifference,” he said.
Otti commended the OGTT founder for assembling great minds to address leadership challenges.
He noted that the conference correctly focused on how knowledge and artificial intelligence can guide leadership consciousness and secure national socioeconomic interests.
The governor observed that institutional decay, corruption, and infrastructure failure are symptoms of a deeper crisis within the public governance ecosystem.
He challenged leaders to leverage artificial intelligence to track corruption, improve civil service training, and enhance operational efficiency.
Otti highlighted Abia’s transition to smart schools, renewable energy investments and electric buses for mass transit to boost public service delivery.
He noted that the state has adopted computer-based testing for civil service recruitment and automated land administration protocols.
“We have digitally signed more certificates of occupancy in the last three years than was done in ten years before our arrival.
“The quality of education in our public schools is steadily improving, as our students ranked first in the recent Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.
“Our dynamic disposition has offered us the platform to improve service delivery and institutional responsiveness,” he said.
Otti urged private sector leaders to actively engage in governance rather than retreating into indifference when institutions weaken.
He called on citizens to reject the comfort of silence and support public sector capabilities to unlock collective prosperity.
Otti concluded that extraordinary individual achievements cannot erase communal failure, urging all stakeholders to step into the arena of democratic engagement.(NAN)
