CHARLES OGUGBUAJA, Ph.D.
To us in the Good Leadership and Governance Series With Dr. Charles Ogugbuaja (GLGSWDCO), it did not come to us by surprise, when we heard on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, that the wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen Oluremi Tinubu, CON, on a state visit, and in a landmark compassion, donated whopping N2 billion lifeline to the age- long Akwete Women Weaving Cooperative Society in Ukwa East Local Government Area (LGA), of Abia State. This empowerment gesture would facilitate the cloth production matrix of the cooperative society, bringing succour, cascading to an extent in reducing unemployment and economic upliftment effect.
We unequivocally take this position because the good leadership and governance provided by the workaholic Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Gov Alex Chioma Otti, are stretching and being felt in all conners of the country. Good news flies. Such has brought presidential goodwill far away from Aso Rock.
Far back in January 2025, President Bola Tinubu, during his official state visit to Enugu State, spotted Gov Otti, and spent some quality minutes to talk about the good leadership and governance the Abia State Governor was providing for Abians and Nigeria at large, in less than two years, then, despite that the governor was not in the ruling party. Invariably, President Tinubu, was telling other governors and Nigerians that one could showcase his best in public administration without belonging to the party at the centre. Gov Otti, unlike others, has never used uncomplimentary words against President Tinubu, despite their political divide. That is leadership by example we are emphasizing.
So, the N2 billion lifeline donation Mrs. Tinubu made, signified that she took the comments of her husband in Enugu serious, and taking the lead in making such huge donation as never done in any part of the country, to support the administration of Gov Otti, to move Abia State desirably, forward.
In this demonstration, carried out at the symbolic civic reception held for the Mother of All Nation, at the Township School, Akwete, in the presence of Gov Otti, his wife, Her Excellency, Priscilla Chidinma Otti, and top government officials, a new chapter has been opened in the annals of economic history of governance in the state. It indicates that demonstrating administrative capacity at sub-national level pays hugely. Gov Otti has done so and attracted such economic relief to Akwete Women, and other women in the state, by extension.
Baring her mind, describing the wrapper weaving craft as generational transfer strategy, Mrs. Tinubu, said, “I am here to announce to all Nigerians, the Igbos should take Akwete to the Nation. I tell her (Abia First Lady), you all wear and tie Asooke. Why not wear Akwete? It’s a beautiful fabric. And those are the things that they have to modernise.
“But for me, and for all the notable sons of Igbo land, it’s not only Abia State, but all the other Igbo lands, rise up to the occasion to preserve this.
“On my own, I told the Governor, I’m donating Two Billion Naira to the project. I don’t know how you want to use it.”
She continued: “Otti is a good man. He’s a very good man. And I see that. And I want to thank you so much, Your Excellency. Yes! I invited myself. I remember when I was calling you, looking for your wife too, concerning Akwete, but I thank God we are here today.
“This was supposed to be just a short visit to see these women. And it turned out to be the entire State came to welcome me. I am humbled.
“And I thank you, Your Excellency. You kept calling and you wanted to give the best.”
Historically stating the analogy of the Akwete success story, indicative that she had been following the cooperative, she opined that she would futuristically, wear the cloth if her husband is inaugurated second term.
“While I was watching a documentary, I ran into it on NTA. And I saw this woman. When I hear Akwete, I normally think it’s from Ghana.
“Since last year, I’ve been bothering her (Mrs. Otti). I want to go to Akwete. I want to say I love traditional outfit. I love it because our tradition and culture tell us who we are. The moment we lose that, we won’t remember where we come from.
“And I will tell you, I told Her Excellency, I said, if God brings my husband back, a second time, I’ll be wearing a buba and wrapper made from Akwete,” she gladly posited.
In his speech, Gov Otti expressed happiness that Mrs. Tinubu made it at last, inviting herself to see Akwete Women, describing that it meant a lot to Abia State.
“I want to thank you. This visit means a whole lot to us. For us, we have been engaging with Akwete as far back as 2023, after I was sworn in. We believe, just like you do, that there is a lot that Akwete can do. The first thing that we needed to do was to break barriers of tradition.
“So, it is very, very strategic that you made this visit at this time. I want to also underscore what we represent in Abia here. Once you live in Abia, you are from Abia. We have a large community of Hausa and Yoruba community in Abia. And they are fully integrated into what we are doing,” Gov. Otti assured.
Reiterating that good governance speaks above party politics, the Abia Governor commended President Tinubu, for removing fuel subsidy, and floating the Naira.
“I want to thank you. I want to also plead with you to take our felicitations to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I want you to please thank him.
“Thank him for his courage. Thank him for his sacrifices. Some people may not understand. It takes a man with courage to do what he did in 2023. Remove petroleum subsidy. And follow suit with the floating of the Naira.
“What has that done? That has freed up a lot of funds that would have been used in financing consumption. To doing other things in the Federal government, in the States, and in the Local governments. And today, a lot of States are now paying salaries,” he opined.
Gov Otti expressed the readiness of his administration to work in tandem with Mrs. Tinubu, to build Akwete Women to greater heights.
Also speaking, the Abia Governor’s wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, thanked Mrs. Tinubu, for the visit, maintaining that the Akwete firm was credited to the 19th century visionary weaver, Daada Nwankata.
“This is truly a historic moment and its significance cannot be overstated. It speaks unmistakably to your genuine commitment to creating practical impacts in the everyday lives of ordinary Nigerian women.
“Under your leadership, the social investment programmes of the Renewed Hope Initiative continue to deliver real and practical change through grants and business support for women, micro, small and medium enterprises.
“We could not have asked for a better mother. May the Almighty God continue to strengthen you,” she said.
The Senator representing Abia South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; the member representing Ukwa East and West Federal Constituency, Hon. Chris Nkwonta; former Minister of Mines and Steel, Dr. Sampson Ogah, and the Hon. Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr. Mathew Ekwuribe thanked and commended the First Lady for identifying with the Akwete women, appreciating the wife of Governor Otti for discovering them.
Hon. Nkwonta, particularly, stressed the need to give Akwete craft visibility by building a befitting weaving centre for the women. He lauded Governor Otti’s governance style.
“This is a man that has come to redefine governance in Abia State. This man has come to redefine governance in Abia State. I’m a member of APC. But I’ll tell you something today, my vote is for Dr. Governor Alex Otti,” he clarified.
The historic visit featured conferment of a chieftaincy title, of “Ugo Nwanyi of Abia” translated to mean “The Pride of Womanhood,” on Mrs. Tinubu.
WRITER’S NOTE: It is not easy to be a good leader. His Excellency, Gov Alex Otti, OFR, has demonstrated that capacity. That is the truth. This led to the interest of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, CON, to visit Akwete women cooperative society, donating whopping N2 billion, as personal lifeline to boost empowerment. This feat is commendable. Let the enormous support for Gov Otti continue.
ABOUT ABIA
Abia, one of the 36 states in Nigeria, meaning the various blocs of Aba, Bende, Isiukwuato, and Afikpo, was created in August 7, 1991, by the erstwhile military President of Nigeria, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd). The state has moved from the yesteryears of cankerworm to the present glorious and liberated era under the watch of His Excellency, Gov Alex Chioma Otti, OFR.
Dr. Ogugbuaja, an advocate of good governance, leadership, and a deep supporter of good governance in Abia State, holds a B.Sc. (Mass Comm), an M.Sc. (Mass Comm), an M.Sc. (International Affairs & Diplomacy), a Ph.D. (Mass Comm), a PGDE, a Certified Teacher (TRCN), a Dip. (Desktop & Graphics), a Cert.(Biz Mgt. & Enterpr), a Cert.(Population & Demography studies), & a Cert.(Printing).
