Gov. Otti Advocates Deliberate Youth Training to Boost Employment

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has called for deliberate training of young people in the insurance profession as a strategy to develop future professionals and create employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.

Governor Otti made the call on January 20 while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), led by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Ekeoma Ezeibe, at his office in Umuahia.

The Governor stressed that professionalism is rooted in training and capacity building, noting that his administration places strong emphasis on youth development. He cited initiatives such as the Abia Leadership Training Initiative, TechRise Programme and the Abia Leadership Academy, through which about 1,000 young people were recently trained.

According to him, young people can be deliberately encouraged to take interest in the insurance profession and acquire the required training to excel, adding that no professional attains competence without proper learning.

Governor Otti commended the role of NCRIB in strengthening trust within the insurance industry, describing the council as a critical bridge between insurance companies and their clients.

He noted that the emergence of NCRIB has helped to address the long-standing trust deficit in the insurance sector, while also acknowledging the existence of over 600 registered insurance brokers under the council.

Describing the presentation by the NCRIB President as excellent and well thought out, the Governor assured that the state government would carefully examine the proposals. He directed his Special Adviser on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Dr Emmanuel Okpechi; Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor; and Technical Assistant, Mr Charles Egonye, to engage with the council and work out modalities for a possible partnership.

Governor Otti expressed his willingness for government involvement in driving the proposed initiatives, provided they deliver value, particularly to policyholders. He congratulated Mrs Ezeibe on her emergence as President of NCRIB, describing her election as a well-deserved choice and expressing confidence in her leadership capacity.

He also thanked the council for selecting Umuahia as the host city for the 2026 NCRIB CEOs’ Retreat and assured them of the state government’s full support to ensure a successful event.

Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Ezeibe highlighted the critical role of insurance in promoting sustainable economic development. She commended Governor Otti for his visible efforts in transforming Abia State, particularly through the rehabilitation of markets and reconstruction of roads across Aba and other parts of the state.

She noted that Aba, historically known as the commercial hub of Eastern Nigeria, had suffered years of infrastructure decay, which negatively affected trade and export activities. According to her, the trend has been reversed under Governor Otti’s administration, with tangible improvements now evident across the state.

Mrs Ezeibe stressed the importance of sustainability in development and underscored the role of insurance in protecting businesses, ensuring stability and supporting economic growth. She appreciated the Governor for his support during her investiture as the 23rd President of NCRIB in October and outlined her vision for the council.

She sought a strategic partnership with the Abia State Government, listing benefits such as job creation, economic stability and security, investment protection, access to healthcare and overall value creation for the state.

Those present at the meeting included the Acting Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Mereibeole; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD; Special Adviser on IGR, Dr Emmanuel Okpechi; Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor, among others.