Aba North Chairman Hails Otti’s Girl-Child Empowerment Agenda as World Marks 2025 International Day of the Girl Child

The Executive Chairman of Aba North Local Government Area, Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke, has commended the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, and his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, for their outstanding commitment to promoting the rights, education, and leadership of the girl child in Abia State.

Hon. Iheke gave the commendation in a statement released on Saturday to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated globally under the theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead.”

Describing the day as a moment of reflection and renewed commitment to gender equity, the Aba North Council Boss said the theme aligns perfectly with Governor Otti’s people-centered vision, which prioritizes inclusive education, youth empowerment, and gender-sensitive governance.

He lauded Governor Otti’s transformative reforms in the education and health sectors, especially the introduction of the Smart School Initiative, scholarships for young girls in science and technology, and expanded healthcare access for mothers and children. 

According to him, these interventions have repositioned Abia as a model state in promoting the welfare of women and girls.

Hon. Iheke also praised Her Excellency Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, the First Lady of Abia State, for her “motherly compassion and visionary leadership” through programmes that support the girl child in hygiene education, mentorship, and vocational skill acquisition. He noted that her initiatives have rekindled hope and confidence among thousands of girls across the state.

“In Abia today, under Governor Alex Otti and his wife, the girl child is no longer seen as vulnerable or voiceless but as a beacon of strength, intellect, and innovation. The current administration has shown that empowering the girl child means empowering the society,” Iheke stated.

The Aba North Chairman further reaffirmed his council’s readiness to align with the state’s gender development goals by initiating community-based programmes that protect and promote the rights of girls in education, safety, and leadership.

He urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to provide girls with the support, confidence, and opportunities they need to succeed, stressing that “when a girl child is educated, society advances; when she is empowered, communities flourish; and when she leads, the future brightens.”

Addressing the young girls in Aba North and beyond, Hon. Iheke encouraged them to believe in their abilities and lead with courage, saying, “You are not just followers of change, you are the change. The brilliance in your mind and the compassion in your heart are the tools you need to lead the transformation we all desire.”

He concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to building an environment where every girl child in Aba North can dream, achieve, and lead in line with Governor Otti’s vision for a prosperous, inclusive, and equitable Abia State.