In a decisive step to strengthen the economic architecture of Abia State, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has approved the appointment of Dr. Friday Kanu Ohuche as the Chief Economic Adviser to the state government. The appointment, announced over the weekend, is seen as a strategic boost to the already robust Abia State Economic Management Team, underscoring the Governor’s commitment to professional and evidence-based economic governance.
A release made available to Newsmen by the Governors CPS Ukoha Njoku Ukoha in Tuesday morning describes Dr. Ohuche, as an accomplished economist and development expert, currently serves as Senior Policy and Research Consultant to the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). He also chairs the Economic Governance Sub-Committee of the African Union/APRM Expert Committee responsible for developing the African Governance Index. His résumé includes an illustrious career with international and national institutions such as the IMF, where he was Nigeria’s Country Economist, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, where he voluntarily retired as Deputy Director in the Monetary Policy Department. He also taught economics at Ebonyi State University and served as Special Assistant to four former Economic Advisers to the President of Nigeria.
Governor Otti’s appointment of Dr. Ohuche adds weight to the Abia State Economic Management Team, which includes key cabinet members such as Commissioners for Finance, Budget & Planning, Trade and Commerce, and Industry & SMEs. Other strategic members include the Chairman of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Economic Adviser, Special Advisers on Internally Generated Revenue and Budget & Planning, and the State Accountant-General, among others.
This development comes in the wake of the Governor’s earlier formation of the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council (AGEAC), inaugurated in January 2024. The Council includes globally respected figures such as Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Prof. Arunma Oteh, former Director-General of Nigeria’s SEC; His Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II; Dr. Benedict Oramah; and Mr. Bolaji Balogun. The AGEAC was established to attract investments, foster innovation, and build a resilient, self-sustaining economy for the state.
Governor Otti’s approach to economic governance has earned praise for its inclusivity of intellectual capital and its focus on long-term sustainability. The appointment of Dr. Ohuche is being hailed as another “round peg in a round hole,” poised to deepen policy formulation, drive investment inflow, and accelerate development goals.
With a blend of local insights and global expertise, Dr. Ohuche’s presence in the state’s economic team is expected to bring a new dynamism to Abia’s developmental trajectory. His appointment reaffirms Governor Otti’s resolve to transform Abia into a model sub-national economy in Nigeria.
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