Otti: Women hold the key to raising the next generation

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged women in the state to remain vigilant and focused, stressing their important role in raising children and shaping the future of society. Otti made the call on Friday at the 2026 Abia Women August Delegate Conference in Umuahia, the state capital. The governor described women as the “bedrock of the family” and said his administration would continue to give attention to issues affecting women across the state. He urged Abia women to remain focused on their responsibilities, particularly in raising children, noting that the foundation of a child’s upbringing begins at home. “I challenge our women to keep their eyes on the ball, because the upbringing of children starts with the woman in the home,” Otti said. The governor also commended his wife, Priscilla Otti, for her efforts towards empowering women through various programmes and interventions. According to him, 35 vulnerable women have benefited from the First Lady’s housing project, while plans are underway to expand the initiative. He also highlighted the Safe to Care Initiative and its Thrive Business Challenge, through which 10 women emerged as beneficiaries while other participants received consolation prizes. Speaking at the event, the First Lady said women must move beyond survival and embrace growth, structure and enterprise. She explained that the 2026 August Meeting, themed “Abia Women: Empowered to Thrive,” featured programmes across the state’s 17 local government areas aimed at addressing the root causes of vulnerability. She said the initiatives included economic empowerment, skill acquisition and support for petty traders, farmers, widows and vulnerable women. The First Lady also stressed the importance of helping women build sustainable businesses rather than relying solely on grants. She said the Thrive Business Challenge was designed to encourage women to adopt proper record-keeping, business structures and compliance, which could improve their chances of accessing formal financing. Every woman who participated in the challenge was promised ₦50,000, while the finalists received productive assets and business support grants. The winner, Nnaka Antonio-Samuel, received a ₦2m cash prize and a Toyota Sienna bus. The first runner-up received ₦1m, while the second runner-up got ₦500,000. The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Maureen Aghukwa, urged women to position themselves as active partners in the development of Abia State.