Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has called on Nigeria’s political, business and intellectual elite to take greater responsibility for promoting good governance and strengthening public institutions, warning that poor leadership and public indifference are hindering the country’s development.
Otti made the call on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Leadership Conference organised by the Oxford Global Think Tank (OGTT) in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme, “Putting Our Best Foot Forward,” the governor said sustainable economic growth, social prosperity and national development could only be achieved through quality leadership, strong institutions and effective implementation of government policies.
He noted that poverty, insecurity and the gradual collapse of public institutions were largely connected to leadership failures, stressing that meaningful development required purposeful planning, efficient execution and sustained partnerships across different sectors.
According to Otti, influential Nigerians have an important responsibility to shape the country’s future by creating economic opportunities, supporting businesses and ensuring that public institutions operate in the interest of citizens.
He warned that when individuals in positions of influence place personal interests above public service, the consequences often include economic hardship, social frustration and growing disconnection between the government and the people.
The governor identified corruption, institutional decay, poor policy implementation, inadequate skills within the civil service, resistance to reforms, insecurity and poor infrastructure as major challenges affecting Nigeria’s public governance system.
He also criticised the failure of the country’s elite to adequately protect public institutions, observing that political interference, patronage and administrative inefficiency had weakened the effectiveness of the civil service.
Otti further expressed concern over the collapse of once-prominent national institutions and businesses, including Nigerian Airways and the country’s national shipping line. He said their disappearance had contributed to job losses, declining household incomes and a reduction in national pride.
To address these challenges, the governor advocated the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to strengthen public institutions, detect corruption, improve civil service performance, increase government revenue and restore public confidence.
He urged participants at the conference to explore how technology could promote transparency, monitor government projects, strengthen accountability and encourage greater citizen participation in democratic processes.
Otti also emphasised the relationship between the public and private sectors, arguing that businesses and individuals could not completely shield themselves from the negative consequences of poor governance.
He therefore urged Nigerians, particularly educated and influential citizens, to move away from political apathy, participate actively in democratic activities and demand accountability from elected officials and other public office holders.
Highlighting the reforms introduced by his administration in Abia State, Otti said his government was increasingly adopting innovation and technology to improve service delivery across different sectors.
He disclosed that the state was gradually transitioning to smart schools, investing in renewable energy for healthcare facilities and public institutions, procuring electric vehicles for mass transportation and introducing computer-based examinations for civil service recruitment and promotion.
The governor also listed the introduction of digital systems for land administration and document management as part of the reforms aimed at improving efficiency and reducing delays in government operations.
According to him, although some of the initiatives initially faced resistance, they were already producing positive results, including improvements in public school performance, increased productivity among civil servants and faster processing of official documents.
Otti further disclosed that his administration had issued more Certificates of Occupancy within its first three years than were issued in the preceding ten years.
He explained that the reforms were driven by the belief that public institutions must continuously adapt to changing demands and embrace modern approaches to improve their effectiveness.
However, the governor cautioned that individual successes could not make up for the country’s collective development challenges, pointing to widespread poverty, inadequate public services, brain drain and growing frustration among citizens.
He maintained that Nigerians with the knowledge, resources and influence to shape public policies and institutions must actively contribute to solving the country’s problems instead of remaining indifferent.
Otti also commended the founder of the Oxford Global Think Tank, Professor Arunma Oteh, for organising the conference and bringing together leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss governance, innovation and institutional development.
He described the gathering as an important opportunity for national reflection, particularly in identifying ways to deploy emerging technologies, strengthen institutions and promote sustainable economic growth and social prosperity.
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