Our Reporter, Abuja
The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Dr. Sam Amadi, has lauded Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for inaugurating/passing out the first cohort of the Abia Leadership Academy, describing the initiative as a critical step towards building strong public sector leadership in Nigeria.
Speaking during his Thursday Democracy Broadcast, Dr. Amadi hailed the programme as a model for the South-East and urged other governors in the region to adopt similar leadership development institutions.
“I want to salute Governor Otti because the notion of a leadership academy for young people, to train them in leadership and to help them understand the nuances of governance, is the right one,” Amadi said.
“Oftentimes, we forget that leadership goes beyond policies—it is also about building the capabilities of the public sector.”
According to him, sustainable development requires not only visionary policies but also a pool of skilled individuals capable of executing them. He drew historical parallels with the achievements of Dr. M.I. Okpara, former Premier of Eastern Nigeria, who leveraged a generation of highly educated minds to drive transformation in the region.
Amadi also referenced the Edo State Government under Governor Godwin Obaseki, which established the Oyegun’s Public Service Institute, as another example of strategic investment in human capital.
“The South-East needs to create human capital for transformation. Having a fellowship for young people and mid-level civil servants to be trained by the state is the way forward,” he stressed.
“Human capital is not just for the private sector; it is about enhancing public sector capacity to maximize performance.”
The Abuja School, Amadi noted, runs a similar programme titled Maximizing Public Sector Performance in the 21st Century, which he said aligns with the vision behind the Abia Leadership Academy.
“With this initiative, Abia is on the right trajectory,” he concluded.
