The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Abia State in the 2027 election, Dr Kelechi Anosike, has called for deliberate institutional reforms and stronger collaboration among South-East states to transform the region into a formidable economic and political force.
Anosike, who was a special guest and keynote speaker at the South-East Zonal Summit of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) in Enugu, said the region’s development should be anchored on strong institutions, professional management, accountability and measurable performance.
He argued that institutions outlive political administrations and urged South-East leaders to build systems capable of delivering sustainable development beyond individual political tenures.
The public policy expert identified weak digital systems, bureaucratic delays, poor performance culture and inadequate measurement of outcomes as some of the challenges affecting public administration in the region.
He proposed the adoption of what he described as “Performance Governance,” where public institutions and political appointees would be assessed based on clear and measurable indicators.
Anosike also challenged NIM to develop an annual South-East Governance Report Card to assess states on areas including ease of doing business, infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, security innovation and digital governance.
He further called on the institute to position itself as a regional governance think tank by providing policy guidance and professional training for commissioners, special assistants, personal assistants and local government officials.
On entrepreneurship, Anosike identified informality, inadequate skills certification and poor succession planning as major challenges facing businesses in the region.
He disclosed that, if elected governor of Abia State, he would establish the Abia State Informal Sector Development and Regulatory Agency (ASISDRA) to provide certification and refresher training for artisans and other skilled workers.
According to him, partnerships with major construction and engineering companies could help artisans acquire internationally recognised skills and improve their earning potential.
Anosike also advocated a shift from what he called a “certificate economy” to a “productivity economy,” stressing the need to revive technical and vocational education across the South-East.
He proposed the establishment of Young Managers’ Clubs in primary and secondary schools to expose children early to management, leadership and financial responsibility.
The PDP candidate further urged NIM to partner with the South-East Development Commission, establish a South-East Management Excellence Academy, promote digital governance and champion ethical leadership across the region.
He said the future of the South-East would depend on the ability of its people and leaders to convert individual entrepreneurial successes into collective regional strength.
