NEWS
Abia Deepens Strategic Alliance With World Bank as Governor Alex Otti Engages New Country Director on Development Partnerships
The Abia State Government has intensified efforts to expand its development partnerships with the World Bank following a high-level courtesy visit by Governor Alex Otti to the newly appointed World Bank Country Director to Nigeria, Mr. Matthews Verghis, in Abuja.
The development was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, on Monday at the Government House, Umuahia, while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR.
Prince Kanu explained that the visit formed part of the present administration’s broader commitment to strengthening existing collaborations between the Abia State Government and the World Bank in order to attract more developmental opportunities capable of transforming critical sectors of the state economy.
According to him, the engagement created an avenue for both the Abia State Government and the World Bank leadership to review ongoing collaborative programmes already benefiting the state, while also opening discussions on new strategic areas of partnership aimed at accelerating socio-economic growth and improving the living standards of the people.
He noted that the Governor’s meeting with the World Bank Country Director reflects the administration’s proactive approach towards building strong institutional relationships with international development partners in line with its vision of repositioning Abia as a modern, economically viable and investment-friendly state.
Speaking further during the briefing, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs. Ngozi Felix, stated that the State Executive Council appreciated the Governor’s courtesy visit to the World Bank Country Director and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustaining productive engagements with the global financial institution.
She emphasized that discussions with the World Bank would continue in order to ensure that Abia State remains a major beneficiary of the institution’s numerous intervention programmes and development initiatives.
Mrs. Felix further highlighted that the areas of continuous partnership between the Abia State Government and the World Bank include energy, education, agriculture and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), stressing that these sectors align with Governor Alex Otti’s vision of building a technologically driven, economically empowered and socially inclusiv
e Abia State.