Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has congratulated Abia women on the successful conclusion of the 2026 Abia Women August Delegates Conference (AWADEC).
The Governor spoke on Friday, August 27, 2026, at the grand finale of AWADEC held at the Aguiyi Ironsi Cenotaph, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia.
The Governor described women as the bedrock of the family and critical partners in the development of the State, assuring that his administration would continue to accord women a prominent place in the socio-economic transformation of the New Abia.
“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,” Governor Otti stated.
Governor Otti urged women to remain resolute and focused in their responsibilities, particularly in ensuring that their families and children do not become involved in crime, cultism, bad gangs, or other acts capable of destroying their future.
The State Chief Executive noted that the proper upbringing of children remains a major responsibility of mothers, adding that women who pay close attention to their families often raise children who turn out well. “You must have your eyes on the ball and stay focused. Anywhere the woman is paying attention, the children turn out well,” Gov. Otti stated.
The Governor also commended his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, for her various interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable women, including the provision of housing for 35 vulnerable women and the Safe Tent Care Initiative, which provides support to women in business.
In her address, Mrs. Otti called on women across the State to embrace opportunities, build sustainable businesses, and become active contributors to the socio-economic development of the State.
She described this year’s August meetings across the 17 Local Government Areas as remarkable, noting that the programmes provided practical support through economic empowerment, skills acquisition, assistance to petty traders and farmers, as well as interventions for widows and vulnerable women.
The Mother of the State said the provision of a decent home for the mother of a survivor of gender-based violence was particularly significant because it demonstrated that empowerment must address the root causes of vulnerability.
“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,” Mrs. Otti stated.
The First Lady, who highlighted the Thrive Business Challenge, explained that it was designed not merely to reward winners but to encourage women to build structured, viable and sustainable businesses.
She announced that all participants in the competition who did not make the final 10 would receive a token of ₦50,000, while finalists would receive productive assets and business support grants to strengthen their enterprises.
Mrs. Otti commended the Governor for creating an enabling environment for women to thrive and urged women to sustain their support for the State’s development. “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. Mrs. Maureen Aghukwa, called on Abia women to leverage the traditional August Meeting platform to promote economic empowerment, education, healthcare, social protection, community development and leadership. She said the transformation of Abia cannot be complete without the full participation of women.
The Commissioner disclosed that the theme for the 2026 AWADEC is “Abia Women Empowered to Thrive. She described women as critical stakeholders in the development of the State and urged them to move from survival to sustainability.
She commended Governor Alex Otti for his commitment to creating an enabling environment for women and girls to prosper, 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 across Abia State to embrace opportunities, develop new skills, and take deliberate steps towards personal and economic advancement, stressing that “thriving is not a destination, but a process.”
Prof. Akanwa stated that the administration of Governor Otti has shown that it believes in the capacity of Abia women.
She said women who desire to thrive must take ownership of their lives and responsibilities while actively contributing to peace and stability in their homes and communities. She encouraged women to take action rather than wait for opportunities, urging them not to settle for survival when they have the capacity to thrive.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
August 28, 2026.
