Gov. Otti Urges Nigeria To Look Beyond Oil For Sustainable Economic Growth

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on Nigeria to urgently diversify its economy and explore alternative revenue sources beyond crude oil to achieve lasting growth and sustainable development. He made the call on Thursday, December 4, 2025, while delivering the 37th Convocation Lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), where he emphasized that true development must focus on human welfare, innovation, and productive capacity rather than dependence on natural resources alone.

In his address, Governor Otti thanked the university for the honour and commended its leadership for producing professionals who contribute meaningfully to national development. He highlighted Nigeria’s paradox of abundant population, human intellect, and mineral wealth coexisting with widespread poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment, noting that these advantages have failed to translate into improved living standards for most citizens.

The governor explained that development should be measured not only by economic growth but also by improvements in quality of life, including access to education, healthcare, security, and stable employment. Citing global development frameworks, he stressed that sustainable development requires deliberate planning, strong institutions, investment in social infrastructure, technological integration in production, and policies that encourage both domestic and foreign investment.

Governor Otti concluded by urging national unity and collective responsibility in addressing Nigeria’s challenges, stating that development is not the duty of government alone but a shared task. He maintained that sustainable progress will only be possible when the nation prioritizes human capital development, environmental protection, and innovation while reducing overreliance on oil as its primary source of revenue.