Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has described the state’s 35-year journey as a story of resilience, sacrifice and determination, assuring residents that his administration remains committed to building a stronger and more prosperous future.

Otti stated this on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in a statewide broadcast marking the 35th anniversary of the creation of Abia State.

The governor expressed gratitude to God for the state’s progress since its creation, while congratulating Abians for their contributions to the development of the state.

He described the anniversary as a moment to celebrate the resilience of the people and reaffirm the collective responsibility to build a better Abia for future generations.

According to him, Abia’s development did not happen by accident, but was the result of years of agitation and commitment by political leaders, traditional rulers, scholars, religious leaders, industrialists and other stakeholders who championed the creation of the state.

Otti paid tribute to the state’s founding leaders, including its first democratically elected governor, the late Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, as well as past governors and military administrators for their contributions to Abia’s political, economic and social development.

He also acknowledged the contributions of entrepreneurs, artisans, teachers, civil servants, healthcare workers, security personnel, traders and other professionals whose daily efforts, he said, have shaped the identity and economy of the state.

“Abia, like every society through time, embodies the energy and the optimism of the people who live in it; we do not give up, whatever the odds are,” the governor said.

While celebrating the achievements of the past 35 years, Otti cautioned that Abia was only beginning, stressing that more work remained to be done.

He said the state must reject complacency and mediocrity while preparing younger generations for an economy driven by knowledge, innovation and value creation.

The governor highlighted his administration’s investments in education and healthcare, saying thousands of teachers and health workers had been recruited and trained over the last three years.

He also cited the construction and equipping of smart schools and healthcare facilities, as well as investments in primary healthcare across all 184 wards in the state.

Otti said his administration had also reinvigorated the state’s health insurance programme to reduce the burden of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses on residents.

On infrastructure, the governor disclosed that more than 1,000 kilometres of roads had been fixed across urban and rural communities in the last three years, with the aim of opening up the economy, improving productivity and attracting investments.

He said the government was equally expanding its focus on agriculture, housing, information and communication technology, and land administration as part of efforts to create jobs and expand economic opportunities.

The governor further announced that his administration had commenced the payment of accumulated gratuity arrears dating back to 2001, assuring retirees that the payments would continue as resources became available.

He added that going forward, workers leaving the state service would receive their gratuities once the necessary documentation was completed.

Otti urged Abians to take responsibility for the future of the state by paying their taxes and statutory fees, supporting security agencies and refusing to be used by individuals seeking to undermine the state.

“Abia is ours to build and thankfully, we are on the right track,” he said, urging residents to remain committed to the collective project of building a state worthy of the dreams of its founders.

He concluded by expressing optimism about Abia’s future and called on residents to continue working together to secure a better future for generations yet unborn.