Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has inaugurated the leadership and members of six strategic boards aimed at accelerating reforms and advancing development across critical sectors of the state.
The boards inaugurated include the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), Abia State Medicines and Commodities Management Agency, Abia State SME Microfinance Bank Ltd, Abia State Homeland Security, and the Abia State Advisory Council on Electricity.
Speaking at the event held at the Government House, Umuahia, Governor Otti said the appointments were based solely on competence and capacity rather than ethnic considerations, with some appointees coming from outside Abia State and the South East region. He described the board members as seasoned professionals selected to help drive his administration’s ambitious development agenda.
The governor highlighted the crucial role of electricity in the state’s industrialisation efforts, disclosing that negotiations with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) are at an advanced stage to take over the Umuahia ring-fenced network. He noted that this would allow the state to extend independent power supply to the remaining eight local government areas not yet covered by the Geometric Power project.
Prominent appointments include Brig. Gen. N.V.U. Nnorom (Rtd) as chairman of the Homeland Security Board, Dr. Sam Amadi, former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), as head of the Electricity Advisory Council, and Mr. Friday Eluwa as chairman of the SME Microfinance Bank Board. Others are Chief Victor Amuta (Medicines and Commodities Management Agency), Ide John Udeagbala (GADA), and Mr. Emeka Uwakolam (UCDA).
Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, Commissioner for Power and Co-Chair of the Electricity Advisory Council, expressed gratitude for the appointments and assured the governor of their commitment to deliver on their mandates.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior government officials, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders from across the state.
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