Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti inaugurated the State Economic Management even as he also has sworn – in Dr. Friday Kalu Ohuche as the Chief Economic Adviser of the State.
Speaking at the event held shortly after the State Executive Council meeting at Nvosi, Isialangwa South, Governor Alex Otti, said that constituting the economic team now is not an accident but a deliberate action of fixing a few things first before getting into the economic management.
“The reason is simple. When you have not built, then there is nothing to manage. So, we have tried to build in these past two years, and it’s about time we now begin to manage the things we have built to achieve targeted results.
“Everything fails and succeeds on the economy. I do know that there was some former president of an African country who said a long time ago, ‘Seek ye first the political kingdom, and every other thing will be added unto you.
“I think over time, that saying has been modified. You need to seek first the economic kingdom, and every other thing will fall in place,” Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti thanked them for accepting to serve in the team and expressed confidence that they would contribute immensely to the success of the administration.
“You can be assured that all the contributions you are going to be making will be taken very seriously. And at the end of the day, our people will be very happy.
“Let me thank you once more for accepting to serve in this capacity and welcome you to this role.
“I have no doubt that you will contribute immensely to the second phase of the activities of this administration in the remaining two years of this tenure.
“And we know that we are going to deliver superior value to our employers, who are the people of Abia State.
Responding, the Chief Economic Adviser, Dr. Friday Kalu Ohuche thanked the Governor for giving him the opportunity to serve. He assured of his commitment and that of other members of the State Economic Management Team to ensuring that the good work the Governor has started would be sustained.
“With my colleagues here, we’re going to make sure that the good work you’ve started will be taken to another height.
“We shall rely on your superior experience as a top-level technocrat and a private sector player. And also rely on your experience for these two years you’ve gained running a state and turning around everything to be able to build on that with the little knowledge we’ll be bringing,” Ohuche stated.
The Abia State Economic Management Team headed by the Governor himself has the Commissioners for Finance, Budget and Planning, Industry & SME, Trade and Commerce, Chairman Board of Internal Revenue, the Chief Economic Adviser, Internally Generated Revenue, the DG and CEO, Office of Public-Private Partnership and Investment Promotion, Special Adviser, Budget and Planning, the State Accountant General, DG, Ministry of Finance, Incorporated, Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer, the Technical Assistant to the Governor.
