Otti Inaugurates PPP Board, Others

Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has inaugurated six boards of parastatals and agencies in the state, charging the members to bring their experiences to bear in the development of the state.

The parastatals and agencies include the Governing Council of the State Public- Private Partnership (PPP) and Investment Promotion Office, and the State Library Board.

The rest are the State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) Management Board, Rural Access Roads Agency, Roads Funds, and the State Lottery Board.

At the event in Umuahia, the state capital, yesterday, the governor said the members appointments are aimed at strengthening institutional leadership in the parastatals and agencies.

“This event is also about strengthening the capacity for the implementation of government policies and programmes with a view to improving the social and economic outlook of the state. ” ‎ ‎He advised them to refrain from rivalry and unhealthy conflicts between the boards and their management, noting that they were selected on their individual merits as professionals.

“We have the same commitment, enthusiasm and energy to keep on the pursuit of the same developmental objectives as we did on the very day of our inauguration”. ‎Congratulating them for their appointments, he added “If anything at all has changed, it is the fact that we are hungry and more determined to do even more for our people.” ‎

‎Responding on behalf of the others, the chairman of ABSUTH Management Board, Chinyere Benjamin-Kalu, thanked the governor for the appointment and opportunity to serve. ‎ ‎She pledged their commitment to supporting the governor to continue in achieving excellent results in all the parastatals and agencies they would be overseeing. ‎ ‎”Today is a day of profound honour, responsibility, and gratitude to me personally and to every member of the newly inaugurated boards”, said the wife of the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. ‎ ‎”And, we are especially grateful to the Governor for bestowing us with such amount of trust and responsibility and his continuing desire for the transformation of all parastatals of the State. ‎ ‎”I understand clearly that public service at this level is not merely ceremonial. It is call to duty, sacrifice, accountability, and results. Your decision to entrust us with this oversight of such a monumental degree is not something we take lightly.”

‎ ‎She urged her colleagues to live up to expectations as the institutions they now represent through the appointments have vested  enormous responsibilities and trust of the government on them.