NEWS
GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI REAFFIRMS PARTNERSHIP WITH CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS NIGERIA TO STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS IN ABIA STATE
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fostering stronger leadership standards, ethical governance and institutional excellence through a strategic partnership with the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria. The assurance came as the Governor received the President of the Institute, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, alongside members of the Governing Council during a courtesy visit at Isialangwa South LGA.
During the engagement, Governor Otti underscored the indispensable role of leadership in the prosperity of institutions, noting that “governance, ethics and professionalism form the foundation of any thriving institution.”
He restated that leadership remains the cornerstone of sustainable development, stability and organisational success across both public and private sectors.
Reflecting on the far-reaching influence of leadership quality, the Governor reiterated his long-held belief that organisational failures or successes stem from the leadership structure. He recalled his earlier article titled The Fish Gets Rotten from the Head, emphasising that whenever an organisation fails or excels, “it’s also leadership.”
Governor Otti assured the visiting delegation that their proposal, especially the sections focused on capacity building would receive comprehensive attention. He directed the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff to critically review the document and advise on areas that could foster mutually beneficial collaboration.
“In terms of capacity building, I have taken note of some of the things you said and I would have my team look at it and find where we can work together as partners. So I want to assure you that we will take a serious look at the proposal,” he affirmed.
The Governor also commended the Institute for its exemplary leadership and congratulated Otunba Oyebanji on his emergence as CIoD President, noting the Institute’s strategic role in national leadership development and succession planning.
Earlier in his remarks, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji highlighted the Institute’s unwavering commitment to strengthening ethical leadership, institutional integrity and globally competitive corporate governance through certifications, capacity development and knowledge exchange platforms. He expressed the Institute’s readiness to partner with Abia State in advancing governance excellence and supporting sustainable development, stressing that such collaborations would influence a future “that generations to come would celebrate.”
Introducing his leadership theme, Implementation, Collaboration and Engagement (ICE, the CIoD President proposed a structured four-pillar collaboration framework. The framework includes:
1. Membership enrollment of the State Executive Council and senior government officials into the CIoD;
2. Institutional membership for Ministries, Departments and Agencies under the CIoD Centre for Corporate Governance;
3. A dedicated annual CIoD Governance and Leadership Roundtable in Abia State;
4. Expanded partnership mechanisms aimed at policy shaping and institutional strengthening.
Otunba Oyebanji commended Governor Otti’s leadership ethos, noting that “Abia State is today a testament to what becomes achievable when vision meets courage and when governance meets integrity.”
The meeting marked another significant stride in the Otti administration’s effort to redefine public sector leadership, consolidate institutional efficiency and set enduring governance st
andards for Abia State.