EBERE UZOUKWA, PhD
A quiet transformation is unfolding in Abia State. Governor Alex Chioma Otti is demonstrating that governance achieves its greatest impact when it is rooted in collaboration and shared responsibility. The recent launch of the EU Funded Supporting Sustainable Social Protection System in Nigeria (SUSI) Project in Umuahia is not just another government programme but a powerful statement on how global partnerships can be harnessed to redefine governance and deliver tangible benefits to the people.
By working with the European Union, UNICEF and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as allies in building a sustainable social protection system, the Otti administration is redefining what it means for government to truly serve the people. This partnership is not an act of charity but a structured collaboration to strengthen institutions, create resilient systems and give the most vulnerable citizens a dignified chance at life. Unlike short-term welfare interventions of the past, the SUSI initiative is designed to institutionalise social protection so that it becomes an integral part of governance in Abia, benefitting both present and future generations.
For the people of Abia, this project brings real and measurable gains. Vulnerable households, including widows, the elderly, people living with disabilities and at-risk youth, will now be captured within a properly managed safety net. Local institutions will gain the technical capacity to plan, deliver and monitor social programmes more effectively. The partnership also creates opportunities for knowledge transfer and capacity building as Abians work closely with experts from international agencies. Beyond this, the initiative links social support to education, healthcare and small-scale enterprise, making social protection both a cushion in times of need and a springboard to prosperity.
This initiative complements Governor Otti’s wider reform agenda, which has already prioritised free and compulsory basic education, health insurance for senior citizens, cooperative support for micro and small businesses, large-scale youth empowerment programmes and interventions in communities threatened by health and environmental challenges. The SUSI project does not replace these efforts; it reinforces and amplifies them while adding international credibility and durable structures. The choice of Abia as one of the pilot states for this programme is also significant, reflecting the growing trust in the administration’s transparent and accountable style of governance.
Underlying these initiatives is Governor Otti’s clear philosophy that poverty is not merely an individual condition but the result of many interwoven factors, ranging from global economic shocks to poor policy choices, from institutional failures to unavoidable life circumstances. His government is therefore not only responding to poverty as it exists today but is also building systems that will protect future generations from its harshest effects. This is why education and youth empowerment have received such prominence, with more than 5,000 young people already trained in ICT, fashion, creative arts and other fields that unlock the potential of the next generation.
The launch of the SUSI project represents more than the unveiling of a programme; it marks a turning point in how Abia approaches governance. It is proof that when government welcomes credible partners, builds strong institutions and places the people at the centre of policy, the true dividends of democracy are delivered. For Abians, it is a promise that dignity and opportunity can be secured in a system that works for everyone. For the administration, it is evidence that openness, accountability and a partnership-driven approach are already attracting global trust. In this way, Governor Alex Otti is not only addressing poverty but also reshaping the social contract between government and the governed, building a future in which no one is left behind.
– Dr. Ebere Uzoukwa is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia State on Public Affairs.