Abia State Governor Alex Chioma Otti has said the inauguration of boards across strategic agencies and institutions in Abia State is aimed at strengthening institutional leadership, accountability and policy implementation to improve socio-economic development and public service delivery.
Inaugurating the leadership and members of several boards and parastatals, Governor Otti described the exercise as a critical governance function designed to deepen efficiency and strengthen institutional capacity across key sectors.
“This is an important governance function aimed at strengthening institutional leadership, deepening a culture of accountability and improving the tone and structure of efficiency across several frontlines,” the governor stated.
He said the institutions inaugurated were central to the administration’s medium and long-term development agenda.
“The Governing Council of the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Promotion Agency, Rural Access Roads Agency, State Roads Funds, Abia State Lottery Board, Abia State University Teaching Hospital Management Board and the Abia State Library Board are all strategic to the actualisation of the medium- to long-term multi-sectoral development and sustainability goals of the administration.” Governor Otti said.
The governor maintained that the appointments were based strictly on competence and merit.
“All the appointees here today were selected on their individual merit. They are all excellent professionals who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields,” he stated.
Governor Otti urged members of the boards to remain focused on governance and service delivery despite increasing political activities and clarified the operational boundaries of the newly inaugurated boards.
“The boards are strictly responsible for policy formulation, strategic guidance and institutional oversight. The responsibility of day-to-day management of affairs belongs to management. For us, however, the best way to politick is to serve the people,” the governor stated.
The newly inaugurated Chairman of the Board of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Ezinne Chinyere Benjamin Kalu, described the appointment as “a call to duty, sacrifice, accountability, and results. ”.
While thanking the governor for the confidence reposed in the board, Dr Kalu pledged to support the repositioning of the institution into a globally respected centre for tertiary healthcare delivery, medical education and research.
“Your Excellency’s decision to entrust us with the oversight of such a critical institution reflects your administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery, medical education, research, and institutional excellence within our state,” she stated.
She noted that teaching hospitals occupy a strategic place in national development because
“It is not just a hospital where patients receive care. It is a centre of healing, learning, innovation, research, mentorship, and national development.”
According to her, the board envisions “a centre of excellence in specialised and tertiary healthcare delivery” alongside “a hub for cutting-edge medical research and innovation” capable of producing “globally competitive healthcare professionals”.
She stressed that institutional advancement must extend beyond infrastructure to include leadership, systems and professional standards.
“Our vision must go beyond infrastructure alone. Buildings are important, but institutions are ultimately built by people, culture, systems, integrity, and leadership,” she said.
Dr Kalu also acknowledged the role of healthcare professionals and the challenge of brain drain within the sector.
“We recognise that healthcare workers remain the backbone of every successful medical institution,” she stated.
On the migration of healthcare professionals, she said: “We must collectively create an environment that encourages excellence, professional fulfilment, and institutional pride here at home.”
The inauguration comes amid growing national conversations on healthcare reform, institutional accountability and the strengthening of tertiary medical institutions in Nigeria.
Analysts say improved governance structures, investment in medical education and support for healthcare professionals at national and subnational levels remain critical to advancing healthcare delivery and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness within the global health sector.
